HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 342

BYRepresentatives H. Sommers, Jacobsen, J. Williams and Unsoeld

Increasing the authority of certain agencies to use local private printing companies.

House Committe on State Government

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (7)

     Signed by Representatives H. Sommers; Chair; Peery, Vice Chair; Baugher, Hankins, O'Brien, Sayan and Walk.

House Staff:Pam Madson (786-7135)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT FEBRUARY 20, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Public Printer is responsible for all printing and binding needs of the legislature, state officers, boards, commissions, institutions, the Supreme Court, and the Court of Appeals.

Local private printing companies may provide these services directly to the following state organizations at their request if they cost $200 or less and are justified by savings in time and processing:  (1) an institution of higher education or an office of the Department of Social and Health Services located outside Olympia; or (2) the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals.  This $200 limit was established in 1959.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The bill initially raises from $200 to $1,000 the general cost limit below which printing projects may be contracted out to private printing companies independently of the Public Printer.  This provision applies to the following organizations if the printing is justified by savings in time and processing:  (1) An institution of higher education or an office of the Department of Social and Health Services located outside of Olympia, and (2) the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals.  The initial $1,000 cost limit must be adjusted for inflation biennially by the Office of Financial Management.

Private printing companies may provide printing services needed by higher education institutions, irrespective of cost, if (1) the services are paid for from nonstate appropriated funds (such as federal or private research grants); and (2) they are justified by savings in time or cost.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The responsibility for implementing the bill's inflationary adjustment provision is shifted from the State Printer to the Office of Financial Management.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     John Pettit and Carol Eastman, University of Washington; Michael Stewart, Council of Presidents; Harry Frost, State Auditor's Office; Dick Lund, State Board for Community College Education; and Lee Finnick, Seattle Community College.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     To help mitigate the effects of inflation since 1959, the bill would increase from $200 to $1,000 the cost limit below which state higher education institutions may directly farm out their printing jobs to private printers.  This change would result in the faster, cheaper handling of printing jobs between $200 and $1,000.  All of the state's four-year public higher education institutions and community college districts support the bill.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.