HOUSE BILL REPORT
SSB 6125
As Reported by House Committee On:
State Government & Tribal Relations
Appropriations
Title: An act relating to preserving records and artifacts regarding the historical treatment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Washington state.
Brief Description: Preserving records and artifacts regarding the historical treatment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Washington state.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Kauffman, Frame, Wellman, Trudeau, Wilson, J., Conway, Kuderer, Lovick, Nguyen, Nobles, Salda?a, Valdez, Wagoner and Wilson, C.).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
State Government & Tribal Relations: 2/20/24, 2/21/24 [DP];
Appropriations: 2/23/24, 2/26/24 [DP].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Directs the Division of Archives and Records Management to work with the University of Washington Institute on Human Development and Disability, the Department of Social and Health Services, and the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation to create a preservation plan to organize, catalogue, and store historical documents and artifacts identified at Lakeland Village.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL RELATIONS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 7 members:Representatives Ramos, Chair; Stearns, Vice Chair; Cheney, Ranking Minority Member; Christian, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Gregerson, Low and Mena.
Staff: Connor Schiff (786-7093).
Background:

The Division of Archives and Records Management. 
The Office of the Secretary of State includes the Division of Archives and Records Management (State Archives), which is responsible for managing the retention, cataloging, and preserving the public records inventory.  The State Archives also operates regional offices that support state and local agencies with records management.


Institute on Human Development and Disability. 
The University of Washington Institute on Human Development and Disability provides an integrated interdisciplinary program in the field of developmental disabilities to advance basic and translational research and to enhance the capacity of communities to provide state-of-the-art comprehensive services. 


Lakeland Village.
Lakeland Village is a state-operated 24-hour facility that provides training, education, and healthcare for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The facility was originally established in 1914. 
Summary of Bill:

Working with the University of Washington Institute on Human Development and Disability, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), and the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, the Division of Archives and Records Management (State Archives) must create a preservation plan to organize, catalogue, and store the historical documents and artifacts identified at Lakeland Village. 

 

Historical documents and artifacts may include but are not limited to medical records, letters, images, films, and artifacts of past residents with intellectual or development disabilities at Lakeland Village.

 

The preservation plan must: 

  • identify all records and artifacts that are available and at risk of destruction;
  • assess the condition of the records and artifacts and level of preservation required;
  • outline the steps that must be taken to preserve the records and artifacts;
  • include a timeline and budget for the preservation work; and
  • include plans for public access for historical and educational purposes. 

 

The plan must be submitted to the appropriate legislative committees by September 1, 2025.

 

State Archives and the DSHS must work together in storing and retaining the records.  No records must be destroyed until the preservation plan is completed and the work is funded during fiscal year 2026.  

 

Indirect costs to the University of Washington are limited to 15 percent.  

 

The bill expires June 30, 2026.  This bill is null and void unless funded in the 2023-25 Omnibus Appropriations Act.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed. ?However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Records were recently identified at Lakeland Village.  Records are usually destroyed after 75 years.  The Division of Archives and Records Management, working with others, would look at how to preserve and store these records.  This would provide the state with the history of the mistreatment of people with development disabilities and information about how treatment systems have changed over the years.  There is a long history of mistreatment of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  It is important to preserve history so it is not repeated.  This project will allow the state to recognize its heritage.  These records should not be destroyed.  Some records have already been destroyed.  


(Opposed) None. 
Persons Testifying:

Senator Claudia Kauffman, prime sponsor; Monica Thomas; and Diana Stadden, The Arc of Washington State.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying:

Corinna Fale, Self Advocates In Leadership.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 29 members:Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Bergquist, Vice Chair; Gregerson, Vice Chair; Macri, Vice Chair; Corry, Ranking Minority Member; Chambers, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Connors, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Couture, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Berg, Callan, Chopp, Davis, Fitzgibbon, Harris, Lekanoff, Pollet, Riccelli, Rude, Ryu, Sandlin, Schmick, Senn, Simmons, Slatter, Springer, Stokesbary, Stonier, Tharinger and Wilcox.
Staff: Bryan Way (786-7311).
Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee On State Government & Tribal Relations:

No new changes were recommended.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed. ?However, the bill is null and void unless funded in the budget.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill will make historical records accessible, particularly for family members to trace their relatives and document family history.  These records are important as they contain stories of real people's lives.  The effort may expand to include all state institutions for people with developmental disabilities.  The records, some dating back to 1890, are currently stored in plastic bins indoors at Lakeland Village.

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying:

Cathy Murahashi, The Arc of Washington.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.