HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2073
As Reported by House Committee On:
Capital Budget
Title: An act relating to establishing the state capitol committee as an advisory entity of state government.
Brief Description: Establishing the state capitol committee as an advisory entity of state government.
Sponsors: Representatives Steele and Tharinger.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Capital Budget: 2/4/22, 2/7/22 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Revises the State Capitol Committee (SCC) to be an interbranch advisory committee of state government.  
  • Removes the Governor, or the Governor's designee, and adds the Director of the Department of Enterprise Services, two Senators, and two Representatives to the SCC.
  • Amends the SCC executive powers to become advisory.
  • Repeals obsolete provisions relating to acquisition of property or construction of facilities that have already occurred. 
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL BUDGET
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 22 members:Representatives Tharinger, Chair; Callan, Vice Chair; Hackney, Vice Chair; Steele, Ranking Minority Member; Abbarno, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; McEntire, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bateman, Dye, Eslick, Gilday, Kloba, Kraft, Leavitt, MacEwen, Mosbrucker, Peterson, Riccelli, Rule, Santos, Sells, Shewmake and Volz.
Staff: Kelci Karl-Robinson (786-7116).
Background:

The State Capitol Committee (SCC) was established by the Legislature in 1921.  The members of the SCC are the Governor, or the Governor's designee, the Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary of State, and the Commissioner of Public Lands (ex officio).  The SCC oversees the governance of the capitol campus and all state facilities in Thurston County, with day-to-day management provided by the Department of Enterprise Services (DES).  

 

The SCC is responsible for:

  • approving construction of all state buildings in Thurston County;
  • approving acquisition of real estate for state government in Thurston County; and
  • providing policy direction to the DES in the stewardship, preservation, operation, and maintenance of the state capitol buildings.

 

The Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee (CCDAC) advises the SCC and the DES regarding state capitol facilities and grounds.  The CCDAC consists of four legislators, the Secretary of State, two architects, a landscape architect, and an urban planner. 


The DES provides staff support to the SCC and the CCDAC.
Summary of Bill:

The SCC is revised from an administrative committee to an interbranch advisory committee of state government.  The SCC is to advise and make recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on the following:

  • the architectural, historical, and aesthetic aspects of the state capitol campus;
  • the acquisition and use of real property for state government purposes in Thurston County; and
  • amendments and modifications to the master plan for the state capitol buildings and grounds.

 

The Governor, or the Governor's designee, is removed from the SCC and the following members are added:

  • the Director of the DES;
  • two members from the Senate, one from each caucus, who shall be appointed by the President of the Senate; and
  • two members of the House of Representatives, one from each caucus, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

 

The following executive powers of the SCC are amended to become advisory:

  • the acquisition of property in Thurston County;
  • the construction, remodeling, and furnishing of capitol office buildings, parking facilities, the Governor's mansion, and other buildings;
  • the approval of the capitol campus master plan; and
  • direction to the DES in the stewardship, preservation, operation, and maintenance of the state capitol buildings.

 

The DES is responsible for:

  • serving as the secretary and record keeper for the SCC, instead of the Commissioner of Public Lands;
  • the operation of electric vehicle supply equipment in parking facilities;
  • the development of a master plan for the design of all the state capitol buildings and grounds, not only the east campus; and
  • renting, leasing, and using all the state capitol properties, not only the east campus, consistent with the use by the Legislature, state agencies, state officials, and the Supreme Court.

 

The CCDAC is renamed to be the Capitol Campus Design Technical Advisory Work Group and the four legislators and the Secretary of State are removed.  The work group is no longer responsible for reviewing the process of solicitation and selection of design services on campus.


Multiple statutes related to acquisition of property or construction of facilities that have already occurred are repealed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The Legislative Campus Modernization project will lead to new buildings on campus to address House and Senate space needs.  The committee believes they have executive authority, and their involvement has led to project cost and schedule overruns.  The Legislature should have authority over the budget.
 
(Opposed) There is an appreciation for the intent of the legislation, but there is opposition to removing the Governor from the committee.  There is a need for thoughtful conversations about the membership and roles of the SCC.  The DES is responsible for the custody and care of the state capitol campus and the SCC and the CCDAC provide a role in informing the comprehensive plan.  The statutes governing the SCC and the CCDAC are outdated and in conflict.  The SCC convened a workgroup to recommend statutory changes, which includes representatives from the SCC, the CCDAC, the Office of Financial Management, the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and members of the Legislature.  The workgroup will offer recommendations in time for the 2023 legislative session.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Mike Steele, prime sponsor.
(Opposed) Bill Frare, Department of Enterprise Services.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.