HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2587
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Community & Economic Development & Housing
Title: An act relating to a competitive grant program for arts and cultural facilities.
Brief Description: Expanding availability of the competitive grant program for arts and cultural facilities.
Sponsors: Representatives Carlyle, Haler, Fitzgibbon, Jinkins, Asay, Dunshee, Lytton, Ormsby, Warnick, Walsh, Pettigrew, Kenney and Santos.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Community & Economic Development & Housing: 1/26/12, 1/30/12 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING |
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Kenney, Chair; Finn, Vice Chair; Smith, Ranking Minority Member; Orcutt, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ahern, Maxwell, Ryu, Santos and Walsh.
Staff: Chris Cordes (786-7103).
Background:
For a number of years, the state capital budget has provided capital funding to certain nonprofit organizations through various competitive grant programs. One of these programs, the Building for the Arts program, allows performing arts, art museums, and cultural organizations with facilities projects to apply for the competitive grants. Grant assistance to an organization may not exceed 20 percent of the project cost. The remaining matching funds must be from nonstate sources.
By law, the Department of Commerce (Department) is required to solicit applications for grants under the Building for the Arts program and review and rank the applications in consultation with a citizen advisory committee. The ranking must use objective criteria and consider local community support and an applicant's existing assets. The Department must then submit a prioritized list of recommended projects that are eligible for funding to the Governor and Legislature in the Department's biennial capital budget request. The total amount of recommended funding on the Department's biennial project list may not exceed $12 million.
Since the 2001-2003 biennium, state capital budgets have provided over $37.5 million for Building for the Arts projects. The 2011-2013 State Capital Budget provided just under $2.5 million for these projects.
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Summary of Substitute Bill:
Zoos, aquariums, and technology and science centers are added to the list of nonprofit arts cultural organizations whose facilities projects may be assisted under the Building for the Arts competitive grant program. A zoo or aquarium must be an organization accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. A technology and science center must be an organization meeting the requirements to be a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The substitute bill (1) restores the current $12 million cap on requested projects; and (2) rewords the provision to clarify that the eligible nonprofit organization projects are facilities projects.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) All the institutions eligible for the program are overwhelmingly funded by private money. But some have important public/private partnerships. This bill will broaden the reach of the public/private partnership model in a thoughtful way. It recognizes a changed dynamic where institutions that used to be public are now nonprofit. This allows effective leverage of state dollars.
Broadening the definition to include science organizations recognizes the role of science in the larger museum community and recognizes the actual scope of the sector. These facilities dedicate much of their resources to education and are also a big piece of the sector's economy. Similarly, zoos are an important part of cultural and educational opportunities. Students receive a science education which zoos work to match with the state's essential learning requirements. Students have been shown to become more interested in science if they have a hands-on interaction with animals. Learning programs for teachers are also provided.
Cultural organizations have made progress in consolidating to increase effectiveness. However, no organization can commit to capital projects based on gate revenue alone. Organizations provide access to low-income visitors by keeping ticket prices affordable and providing free tickets for students in free and reduced-price lunch programs.
Raising the limit on projects that can be recommended by the Department of Commerce will allow, over time, more support for projects. This does not commit the state to any additional funding.
(Information only) Funding for this program is from a bond account.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Carlyle, prime sponsor; Bryce Seidl, Pacific Science Center; and David Schaefer, Woodland Park Zoo.
(Information only) Dan Aarthun, Department of Commerce.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.