Northern state hospital

AN ACT Relating to preserving records and artifacts regarding the 1
historical treatment of people with intellectual and developmental 2
disabilities at Northern state hospital; creating new sections; and 3
providing an expiration date. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature intends that the secretary 6
of state organize, catalogue, and store records existing in the 7
Northern state hospital archives and that they be held in perpetuity, 8
preserving documents related to the memories of those who lived and 9
worked at Northern state hospital, honoring their lives and who they 10
were as people.11
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The division of archives and records 12
management, working with the University of Washington institute on 13
human development and disability, the department of social and health 14
services, and the department of archaeology and historic 15
preservation, shall create a preservation plan to organize, 16
catalogue, and store the historical documents and artifacts 17
identified at Northern state hospital, a state-operated facility. 18
Historical documents and artifacts may include but are not limited to 19
medical records, letters, images, films, and artifacts of past 20
S-3617.1
SENATE BILL 5891
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Wagoner, Kauffman, Frame, Nobles, Shewmake, and C. Wilson
Prefiled 12/15/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections.
p. 1 SB 5891
residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities at Northern 1
state hospital. 2
(2) The preservation plan shall: 3
(a) Identify all the records and artifacts that are available and 4
at risk of destruction; 5
(b) Assess the condition of the records and artifacts and level 6
of preservation required, including but not limited to the age of the 7
record, the material used, and environmental conditions in which the 8
items have been stored; 9
(c) Outline the steps that will be taken to preserve the records 10
and artifacts. This includes how the records will be stored, where 11
they will be stored, how they will be handled and transported, and 12
how they will be restored if they are in danger of falling into 13
disrepair, dysfunction, or destruction. The plan must also include 14
how the records will be catalogued, digitized, and transferred to 15
archival microfilm for long-term access; and 16
(d) Include a timeline for the preservation work and an overall 17
budget for the work. The plan must be reported to the appropriate 18
committees of the legislature by September 1, 2027.19
(3) The plan described in this section must also include future 20
plans for public access for historical and educational purposes.21
(4) The division of archives and records management and the 22
department of social and health services shall work together in 23
storing and retaining the records described in this act, from 24
Northern state hospital. No records shall be destroyed until the 25
preservation plan is completed and the work is funded during fiscal 26
year 2028. 27
(5) Indirect costs to the University of Washington for this 28
project are limited to 15 percent. 29
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act expires June 30, 2028.30
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p. 2 SB 5891