FINAL BILL REPORT

EHCR 4400

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Naming the 1063 Building "Helen Sommers Building."

Sponsors: Representatives Cody, Kagi, Johnson, Appleton, Frame, Ormsby, Jinkins, Short, Young, DeBolt, Hudgins and Tarleton.

House Committee on State Government, Elections & Information Technology

Senate Committee on State Government

Background:

The Legislature must approve names for new or existing buildings on the state capitol grounds, based on recommendations from the State Capitol Committee (SCC) and the Director of the Department of Enterprise Services (DES), with advice from the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee, within certain limitations. For example, new or existing buildings may be named, or renamed, after an individual who has had a significant role in Washington history. When naming or renaming buildings and other spaces, consideration must be given to:

• any disparity that exists with respect to the gender of the persons after whom buildings are named;

• diversity of human achievement; and

• diversity of the state's citizenry and history.

On March 16, 2017, the SCC recommended that the new 1063 Building be named the Helen Sommers Building.

Representative Helen Sommers first joined the Washington State House of Representatives (House) in 1972 and was among 12 women in the 98 member body of the House in the 1973 session. Prior to retiring in 2009, Representative Sommers chaired five committees, including State Government, Revenue, Higher Education, Capitol Budget, and Appropriations.

In 2017 the state completed construction of the new office building, known as the 1063 Building, located at 1063 Capitol Way South in Olympia. The 1063 Building sits at the west end of the Capitol Campus and replaces the former Capitol Park Building.

Summary:

Acknowledging Representative Helen Sommers' service, the the DES is authorized to place the name "Helen Sommers Building" on the newly constructed 1063 Building.

Votes on Final Passage: