HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESHB 2327
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Passed House:
April 15, 2009
Title: An act relating to eliminating or reducing the frequency of reports prepared by state agencies.
Brief Description: Eliminating or reducing the frequency of reports prepared by state agencies.
Sponsors: House Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Representatives Linville and Ericks; by request of Office of Financial Management).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Ways & Means: 4/2/09, 4/14/09 [DPS].
Floor Activity
Passed House: 4/15/09, 97-0.
Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS |
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 22 members: Representatives Linville, Chair; Ericks, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dammeier, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Cody, Conway, Darneille, Haigh, Hinkle, Hunt, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Pettigrew, Priest, Ross, Schmick, Seaquist and Sullivan.
Staff: Steve Smith (786-7178)
Background:
Statute requires state agencies to submit reports to the Governor and the Legislature on the progress, status, or effectiveness of various programs. Many of these reports are submitted annually or on a regular basis, while others may be a one-time requirement to complete a study and make recommendations.
Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill:
Twenty-one reports are eliminated and 12 reports are required to be submitted biennially, rather than annually. (See table of eliminated and reduced frequency of reports for detail.) In addition, requirements regarding the production of all legislative reports, as well as annual and biennial reports, in an electronic format-only, are specified. Notice of these reports will be provided to the Legislature and the Office of the Governor, and the reports will be available on the Legislature's Internet home page in an easily accessible manner.
Eliminated and Reduced Frequency of Reports
HB 2327
Agency | Report | Report Frequency | Report Disposition | Bill Section |
Child Welfare Services | Department's success in meeting need for adoptive and foster home placements; reducing foster parent turnover rate; completing home studies; implementation of passport program | Annual report to Governor and Legislature | Eliminated | Sec. 5 |
Community Economic Revitalization Board | Review of revenues received by local governments and dedicated to public improvements projects; names of businesses locating within the revenue development area as a result of improvement projects; number of permanent jobs created; and average wages and benefits of employees | Annual report to Legislature and public | Biennial report | Sec. 13 |
Community, Trade, and Economic Development | Performance results of contracts with county-designated associate development organizations | Annual report to Legislature and Washington Economic Development Commission | Biennial report | Sec. 16 |
Community, Trade, and Economic Development | Public Works Board summary of low interest emergency loans to local governments for emergency public works projects and for preconstruction activities on public works projects before legislative approval | Annual report to Legislature | Biennial report | Sec. 17 |
Community, Trade, and Economic Development | Assessment of state's performance in furthering goals of state 10-year homeless housing strategic plan | Annual report to Governor and Legislature | Biennial report | Sec. 18 |
Community, Trade, and Economic Development | Children of Incarcerated Parents Advisory Committee update on committee activities | Annual report to Governor and Legislature | Biennial report | Sec. 19 |
Community, Trade, and Economic Development | Summary of previous year's bond allocation requests and issuance | Annual report to Governor and Legislature | Biennial report | Sec. 20 |
Community, Trade, and Economic Development Motion Picture Competitive-ness Program | Annual survey of the motion picture competitiveness program | Annual report to Legislature | Biennial report | Sec. 15 |
Early Learning, Department of | Effectiveness of early childhood education programs | Biennial report to Governor and Legislature | Eliminated | Sec. 11 |
Early Learning, Department of | Findings related to longitudinal study to examine and monitor the effectiveness of early childhood educational and assistance services | Annual report to Governor and Legislature | Eliminated | Sec. 11 |
Financial Institutions, Department of | Review of the number and type of consumer complaints from residential mortgage lending | Biennial report | Eliminated | Sec. 1 |
Financial Institutions, Department of | Review of the activity of the mortgage lending Fraud Prosecution Account | Annual report | Eliminated | Sec. 2 |
Financial Institutions, Department of | Summary of the conditions of banks, savings banks, foreign bank branches, etc.; list of those organized or closed during the year; and other information as advisable | Biennial report to Governor | Biennial report | Sec. 12 |
Fish and Wildlife | Salmon recovery expenditures (submitted by Salmon Recovery Funding Board) | Biennial report to Governor and Legislature | Eliminated | Sec. 10 |
Health Professions Disciplining Authority | Summary of proceedings during past year concerning complaints made, investigated, and adjudicated, and manner of disposition | Annual report to the Legislature | Biennial report | Sec. 23 |
Health, Department of | Yearly report prepared by independent entity for the Department regarding adverse events and incidents reported by medical facilities; patient safety trends; recommendations for statutory/regulatory changes; and consumer education information regarding medical facilities efforts on patient safety | Annual report to Governor and Legislature | Eliminated | Sec. 8 |
Health, Department of | State plan and yearly progress on state asthma plan | Annual report to Governor and Legislature | Eliminated | Sec. 9 |
Health, Department of | Distribution of funds to local health jurisdictions | Annual report to Governor and Legislature | Eliminated | Sec. 11 |
Health, State Board of | Recommendations for public health priorities | Annual report to the Governor | Biennial report | Sec. 24 |
Office of Financial Management | Fee and expense report on civil actions against agencies | Annual report to Legislature | Eliminated | Sec. 11 |
Office of Financial Management | Status of the energy freedom program | Annual report to Legislature | Biennial report | Sec. 21 |
Office of Financial Management | Evaluation of the Savings Incentive Account, including impact on agency reversions and expenditure patterns, and itemization of agency expenditures | Annual report to Legislature | Eliminated | Sec. 22 |
Office of Financial Management and state agencies | Annual maintenance reports including the number, size, and condition of state owned facilities; facility maintenance, repair, and operating expenses; condition of major infrastructure systems | Annual report | Eliminated | Sec. 3 |
Recreation and Conservation Funding Board | Acquisitions and development projects funded by the board | Biennial report to Governor, Legislature, and the Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources | Eliminated | Sec. 11 |
Social and Health Services | Declined acceptance of child custody from law enforcement agency, including dates, places, and reasons why custody was declined | Annual report (only in years when custody of a child has been declined) | Eliminated | Sec. 6 |
Social and Health Services | Progress and barriers of the immigrant naturalization facilitation effort | Annual report to Legislature | Eliminated | Sec. 7 |
Social and Health Services | Status of the Washington telephone assistance program | Annual report to Legislature | Eliminated | Sec. 11 |
Social and Health Services | Outcome measures for WorkFirst Program | Annual report to Legislature | Eliminated | Sec. 11 |
Social and Health Services, Department of | Prevention of out-of-home placements by Family Preservation Services | Biennial report to Legislature | Eliminated | Sec. 11 |
Washington State Patrol | Performance measurements and objectives of the task force on missing and exploited children and accomplishments of task force | Annual report | Eliminated | Sec. 4 |
Washington State Patrol | Uniformity of state and federal regulations regarding transportation of hazardous materials | Report as needed | Eliminated | Sec. 11 |
Washington State Patrol | State fire protection | Annual report to Governor | Eliminated | Sec. 11 |
Washington Tourism Commission | Tourism development program and financial benefits to state | Annual report to Legislature | Biennial report | Sec. 14 |
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Reducing the number of reports created was part of a process that the Governor engaged agencies in, to look for ways to streamline administrative costs. Agencies were asked to provide a list of reports that they felt were of minimal value, were duplicative, or ones that could be phased to a longer period between reports with no impact. The bill does not remove the obligations for agencies to collect the data; in many cases they are providing the data but in other formats or reports, but there are costs associated with producing these reports – both in staff time and in material costs. As we are shrinking resources, we want to focus our priorities on providing direct services within those agencies. The real savings is in staff time, and this is where attention should be directed. The bill is necessary to allow many agencies to legally stop printing on paper. The Department of Revenue isn't statutorily required to submit reports in paper, whereas other agencies do have statutory requirements that would require a bill to change it.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Brian Peyton, Department of Health; and Julie Murray, Office of Financial Management.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.