HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5395

BYSenators Gaspard, Williams, Sellar and Warnke; by request of Secretary of State

Providing funds for the protection and preservation of small town historical records.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Ferguson, Hine, Madsen, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Rayburn, L. Smith and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (2)

      Signed by Representatives Beck and Bumgarner.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT APRIL 2, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The state archivist is authorized to reproduce those documents designated as essential records by the several elected and appointed officials of the state and local governments.  The state archivist is further authorized to charge the several departments of the state and local government the actual cost incurred in reproducing, storing and safeguarding such documents.

SUMMARY:

The sum of $41,500 is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, from the general fund to the state archivist to provide for the protection and preservation of essential and historical records of small towns.  The appropriation is conditioned on an equal sum of money being obtained from public or private grants or other sources during the 1987-89 biennium.

Appropriation:    $41,500 to the state archivist.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    J. D. Moore, Division of Archives, Secretary of State; Richard Patrick, Yelm City Clerk.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This will allow valuable records of towns to be microfilmed and the microfilm stored with the state archivist.  For budgetary reasons many towns have not adequately safeguarded their old records.  The Town of Yelm lost many of its records in a fire last year.  The bill requires 50 percent matching funds.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.