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 Legislature
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.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 4/20/09, 46-1.
House Concurred.
Passed House: 4/23/09, 94-0.
Passed Legislature.
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: Marsha Reilly (786-7135); 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:
Eighteen reports are eliminated and 12 reports are required to be submitted biennially, rather than annually, as follows.
Reports by the Department of Financial Institutions.
Review of the number and type of consumer complaints from residential mortgage lending.
Review of the activity of the mortgage lending fraud prosecution account.
Reports by the Fish and Wildlife Department.
Salmon recovery expenditures (submitted by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board).
Reports by the Department of Health.
Yearly report prepared by independent entity for the Department of Health 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.
State plan and yearly progress on state asthma plan.
Distribution of funds to local health jurisdictions.
Reports by the Office of Financial Management.
Fee and expense report on civil actions against agencies.
Evaluation of the savings incentive account, including impact on agency reversions and expenditure patterns, and itemization of agency expenditures.
Annual maintenance reports including the number, size, and condition of state owned facilities; facility maintenance, repair, and operating expenses; condition of major infrastructure systems.
Reports by the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board.
Acquisitions and development projects funded by the board.
Reports by the Department of Social and Health Services.
Declined acceptance of child custody from law enforcement agency, including dates, places, and reasons why custody was declined.
Progress and barriers of the immigrant naturalization facilitation effort.
Status of the Washington Telephone Assistance Program.
Outcome measures for WorkFirst Program.
Reports by the Washington State Patrol.
Performance measurements and objectives of the task force on missing and exploited children and accomplishments of the task force.
Uniformity of state and federal regulations regarding transportation of hazardous materials.
State fire protection.
Reports by the Washington Tourism Commission.
Tourism development program and financial benefits to state.
The following reports are changed from annual to biennial reports:
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.
Community, Trade and Economic Development.
Performance results of contracts with county-designated associate development organizations.
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.
Assessment of state's performance in furthering goals of state 10-year homeless housing strategic plan.
Children of Incarcerated Parents Advisory Committee update on committee activities.
Summary of previous year's bond allocation requests and issuance.
Annual survey of the motion picture competitiveness program.
Reports by the Department of Financial Institutions.
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.
Reports by the Health Professions Disciplining Authority.
Summary of proceedings during past year concerning complaints made, investigated, and adjudicated, and manner of disposition.
Reports by the State Board of Health.
Recommendations for public health priorities.
Reports by the Office of Financial Management.
Status of the energy freedom program.
Washington Tourism Commission.
Tourism development program and financial benefits to state.
Reports required to be submitted to the Legislature must be provided only in electronic format to the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives (Chief Clerk) and the Secretary of the Senate (Secretary). Entities submitting a report must send the appropriate legislative committee notification, also by electronic means, that the report has been filed. The Chief Clerk and the Secretary shall provide an online site for reports on the legislative Internet home page.
All annual and biennial reports to the Governor must be provided only in electronic format.
Entities submitting electronic reports to the Governor or the Legislature may provide paper
copies if requested.
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.