SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 6221

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.

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Tom, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Hobbs, Honeyford, Murray, Parlette, Pflug, Pridemore, Rockefeller and Schoesler.

Background: By state law, the State Treasurer is responsible for the management and investment of surplus cash in the state treasury and in nontreasury accounts in the custody of the State Treasurer.

Other public funds not under this management authority include moneys held by local governments and state agency accounts outside of the state treasury.

In 1986 the Legislature created the Local Government Investment Pool to maximize the prudent investment of local government funds by authorizing political subdivisions of the state to place their surplus under the management of the State Treasurer, who was authorized to aggregate the funds for investment purposes.

Subsequently, the state's institutions of higher education were authorized to participate in the Local Government Investment Pool.

The State Treasurer, with the approval of the State Finance Committee, is authorized to issue financing contracts, on behalf of various public entities, for the acquisition of real and personal property. These financing contracts, also known as certificates of participation, may be issued on behalf of state agencies, state institutions of higher education, agricultural commodity commissions, local governments and political subdivisions, and other public entities.

Summary of Engrossed Bill: The list of public entities authorized to participate in the Local Government Investment Pool is expanded to include federally recognized tribes, state agencies, and any entity issuing a financing contract approved by the State Finance Committee.

School districts are authorized to make direct investments in the State Treasurer's Local Government Investment Pool, instead of investments made via the County Treasurer.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The Local Government Investment Pool is a highly successful investment program for local governments and other public entities. Participation in the program is entirely voluntary, and the cost of investment is low. Investments in the pool are very liquid, providing flexibility to the participants. This bill will allow other public entities to participate, such as the State Housing Finance Committee, the Washington Economic Development Finance Authority, the State Lottery, special purpose districts, and federally recognized tribes.