Background:

In 1994 the Legislature directed the Governor to review and submit to the Legislature every odd-numbered year a report recommending which boards and commissions should be terminated or consolidated. In making a recommendation, the Governor must consider the following:

whether the entity completed its work and is no longer of critical significance to effective state government;
whether the work of the group directly affects public safety, welfare, or health;
whether the work can be done by another state agency;
what impact termination will have on costs;
whether the work can be done by a non-public entity;
whether termination will result in significant loss of expertise to state government;
whether termination will result in operational efficiencies other than fiscal; and
whether the work can be done by an ad hoc committee.

The Governor is required to make appointments to boards, commissions, and other entities, including citizen member appointments to over 200 entities.

In 2009 the Legislature eliminated 18 statutory boards, commissions, and similar entities, and the Governor eliminated a number of non-statutory entities by executive order. In 2010 the Legislature eliminated 45 statutory boards, commissions, and similar entities.

The Office of Financial Management (OFM) sets allowances for subsistence, lodging, and travel expenses for persons who are appointed to serve on boards, commissions, or similar groups. Part-time groups are identified as class one through class five for purposes of setting any additional compensation or allowances.

In 2010 the Legislature eliminated allowances for class one through three and class five groups if the cost is funded by the State General Fund. Exceptions are permitted. Class one through three and class four groups funded by sources other than the State General Fund are encouraged to reduce travel, lodging, and other costs. All classes were directed, if feasible, to use methods of conducting meetings that do not require members to travel and to use state facilities whenever possible for meetings that require members to physically be present. Approval of the Director of OFM is required to use private facilities for meetings. These restrictions apply to fiscal year 2011.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Elimination/Transfer/Duties/Appointment Authority.

The following entities are eliminated:

the Eastern State Hospital Board;
the Firearms Range Advisory Committee;
the Orthotics and Prosthetics Advisory Committee;
the Performance Agreement Committee;
the Salmon Stamp Selection Committee;
the Western State Hospital Board;
the Home Care Quality Authority. Responsibility for the referral registry is transferred to the Department of Social and Health Services; and
the Migratory Waterfowl Art Committee. The responsibility to select the migratory bird stamp is transferred to the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). The DFW must solicit recommendations from the public.

The following entities are renamed advisory committees, and in some cases functions are limited to reflect the advisory role. For entities to which the Governor appoints the members, the appointing authority is changed.

The Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee becomes the Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Advisory Committee. Appointments are made by the the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The Correctional Industries Board of Directors becomes the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee. Appointments are made by the Secretary of the Department of Corrections (DOC), and the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the Secretary of the DOC.
The Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Committee becomes the Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Advisory Committee. Appointments are made by the Director of the Department of Commerce (COM), and the Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Advisory Committee advises the Director of the COM.
The Real Estate Appraiser Commission becomes the Real Estate Appraiser Advisory Committee. Appointments are made by the Director of the Department of Licensing.
The Escrow Commission becomes the Escrow Advisory Committee.
The Fairs Commission becomes the Fairs Advisory Committee, and the Fairs Advisory Committee advises the Director of the Department of Agriculture.
The Livestock Identification Advisory Board becomes the Livestock Identification Advisory Committee.

The Arts Commission (Commission) is created within the COM. The Director of the COM, rather than the Governor, appoints the Commission members.

The Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board (Board) is created within the DOC. The Secretary of the DOC, rather than the Governor, appoints the Board members.

The appointment authority of the Governor is also changed for the following entities:

the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee (appointed by the Director of the Department of General Administration);
the Sentencing Guidelines Commission (appointed by the Secretary of the DOC);
the State Advisory Board of Plumbers (appointed by the Director of the Department of Labor and Industries);
the Apprenticeship Council (appointed by the Director of the Department of Labor and Industries);
the Boundary Review Board (Three positions appointed by the Governor are eliminated. The number of members appointed by counties, and also cities, is increased from three to four and the number of members appointed by the Boundary Review Board from special districts is increased from two to three.);
the Commission on Pesticide Regulation (appointed by the Director of the Department of Agriculture);
the Commute Trip Reduction Board (The Governor's representative is changed to a representative from the OFM, and other representatives are to be determined by the Secretary of Transportation.);
the Community Economic Revitalization Board (appointed by the Director of the COM);
the Emergency Management Council (appointed by the Adjutant General);
the Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care Steering Committee (appointed by the Secretary of Health);
the Motion Picture Competitiveness Program Board (appointed by the the Director of the COM);
the Interstate Horse Racing Compact Committee (appointed by the Horse Racing Commission);
the State Council on Aging (Appointments are made by the Area Agencies on Aging, except that the Governor continues to appoint a city and county member and up to five at-large members.);
the Horse Park Authority Board (appointed by the Parks and Recreation Commission); and
the Productivity Board (appointed by the Secretary of State for the three Governor's appointments).

Other Agency Specific Provisions.

The Superintendant of Public Instruction may appoint advisory groups on subject matters within the superintendent's responsibilities or required as a condition to the receipt of federal funds. Members may be paid travel expenses. A person may receive an amount not to exceed $100 for each day during which the member attends an official meeting or performs statutorily prescribed duties approved by the chair, if the person: (1) occupies a position, normally regarded as full-time as a certificated employee of a local school district; (2) is participating as part of their employment with the local school district; and (3) the meeting or duties are performed outside school days. The superintendent may reimburse local school districts for substitute certificated employees. A person may receive compensation from federal funds in an amount determined by personal service contract for groups required by federal law.

The requirement that the Quality Education Council meet no more than four times a year is eliminated.

The requirement for the Governor to approve the appointment of the poet laureate is eliminated.

The Horse Racing Commission is reduced from five to three members.

General Provisions.

The fiscal year 2011 restrictions on allowances, travel, and use of private facilities are made permanent. Members of boards, commissions, councils, or committees identified as class one through class three and class five groups may not receive allowances for subsistence, lodging, and travel if these costs are funded by the State General Fund. Exceptions must be approved by the OFM, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the House Chief Clerk or the Secretary of Senate, as appropriate. Those class one through class three and class five boards, commissions, councils, or committees funded by sources other than the State General Fund are encouraged to reduce travel, lodging, and other costs. All classes are directed to use methods of conducting meetings that do not require members to travel and to use state facilities for meetings that require members to physically be present. The Director of the OFM must approve meetings in private facilities.

Except under a specific law to the contrary, agencies are prohibited from entering into personal service contracts with a member of any agency board, commission, council, committee, or other group formed to advise state government for services related to work done as a member of the group.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill restores the following entities that were eliminated in the original bill:

the Athletic Training Advisory Committee;
the Chemical Dependency Certification Advisory Committee;
the Children of Incarcerated Parents Advisory Committee;
the Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board;
the Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers;
the Midwifery Advisory Committee;
the Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities Advisory Committee;
the Problem Gambling Advisory Committee;
the Salmon Recovery Funding Board;
the State Noxious Weed Control Board;
the Well Drilling Technical Advisory Group;
the Workforce Training Customer Advisory Committee;
the Family Policy Council; and
the Council for Children and Families.

The substitute bill restores the following entities, but makes changes in the name, function, and/or appointment authority:

the Achievement Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee;
the Arts Commission;
the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee;
the Correctional Industries Board of Directors;
the Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Committee;
the Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board;
the Real Estate Appraiser Commissions;
the Escrow Commission;
the Fairs Commission;
the Livestock Identification Advisory Board; and
the Sentencing Guidelines Commission.

The substitute bill makes permanent the restrictions on allowances and travel for entities.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) We are in very challenging budget times and need to make good decisions based on criteria. This bill is about cutting costs, reducing staff, and increasing efficiency to provide twenty-first century customer service. Complaints are not being heard about the 143 boards and commissions eliminated or consolidated by executive order. This bill reduces by 14 percent the 2,600 appointments the Governor must make. The bill also eliminates agency authority to pay members unless the authority is specifically in statute.

(Opposed) Eliminating the Achievement Gap Commission will not save money. Washington is ranked in the bottom five of states for closing the gap. Most members pay their own way. The expertise and feedback of the Escrow Commission provides the only link between the Department of Financial Institutions and the public. Members do not receive compensation. Expertise and feedback is important. Removing the Real Estate Appraiser Commission could lower appraisal quality. The Real Estate Appraiser Commission helps keep the rules current. Fees from appraisers, and not the State General Fund, pay for the Real Estate Appraiser Commission. The Salmon Recovery Funding Board oversees the distribution of federal funds and has been integral to the efforts to restore salmon and comply with the Endangered Species Act. Elimination would only save about $25,000, but removal of this board would not eliminate need for coordination. Livestock board members receive no compensation. It is the only entity giving input on livestock identification and implementing federal legislation. When you eliminate the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, you are also eliminating the Sexual Offenders Advisory Board, which is needed in light of a recent case. The Sentencing Guidelines Commission and the Sexual Offenders Advisory Board support evidence-based decision making. The Well Drilling Technical Advisory Group should be retained because it cuts down on agency time and money by providing industry information to the Department of Ecology. Remove the Family Policy Council (FPC) from the bill. Eliminating the FPC would eliminate the main thrust for establishing public private partnerships, which the Governor's budget provides. We need to attract private funding and now is not the time to say no to the Gates Foundation and other entities. Eliminating the Arts Commission could have unintended consequences; the state could lose National Endowment for the Arts funds. State assets would also be at risk. There are over 4,500 pieces of art in the state's collection and the Arts Commission is responsible for their preservation. Only $8,100 is for the actual support of the commission. The work of the Home Inspector Advisory Board will not be done in 2013. The Council for Children and Families has had a huge impact.