HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2127

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 Reported by House Committee On:

Ways & Means

Title: An act relating to fiscal matters.

Brief Description: Making 2011-2013 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.

Sponsors: Representative Hunter; by request of Governor Gregoire.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Ways & Means: 11/28/11, 2/21/12, 2/25/12 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Making supplemental operating appropriations for the 2012-13 biennium.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 16 members: Representatives Hunter, Chair; Darneille, Vice Chair; Hasegawa, Vice Chair; Carlyle, Cody, Dickerson, Haigh, Hudgins, Hunt, Kagi, Kenney, Ormsby, Pettigrew, Seaquist, Springer and Sullivan.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dammeier, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Orcutt, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Haler, Hinkle, Parker, Ross, Schmick and Wilcox.

Staff: Charlie Gavigan (786-7340).

Background:

The state government operates on a fiscal biennium that begins on July 1 of each odd-numbered year. Supplemental budgets frequently are enacted in each of the following two years after adoption of the biennial budget (each odd-numbered year). Appropriations are made in the biennial and supplemental budgets for the operation of state government and its various agencies and institutions, as well as for K-12 public schools.

The 2011-13 State Omnibus Operating Appropriations Act (Operating Budget) appropriated $32.0 billion from the State General Fund and two other accounts, together referred to as State Near General Fund. The total budgeted amount, which includes state and federal funds, is $62.0 billion.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

State Near General Fund appropriations for the 2011-13 biennium are decreased by $815 million; the total budget is decreased by $475 million.

Fund transfers and other changes to the original 2011-13 biennial budget are also made.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The original bill was the Governor's 2012 supplemental operating budget proposal that reduced State Near General Fund (NGF-S) + Opportunity Pathways biennial appropriations by $1.73 billion. The proposed substitute bill by Representative Hunter made numerous changes to the Governor's proposal resulting in net changes to NGF-S reductions of $1.22 billion, and left $504 million in reserves (including the Budget Stabilization Account). The substitute bill adopted by the committee differed from the proposed substitute bill and reduced NGF-S + Opportunity Pathways appropriations by $1.15 billion, and left $454 million in reserves (including the Budget Stabilization Account).

Please see the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program (LEAP) website or fiscal.wa.gov for supporting documents including a detailed comparison of the proposed substitute and the adopted substitute.

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Appropriation: The bill contains multiple appropriations. Please refer to the bill and supporting documents.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

Please refer to the November 28, 2011, and February 21, 2012, recordings of the public hearings.

Persons Testifying: (February 21, 2012)

(In support) Sherry Burkey, Western Washington University; George Scarola, League of Education Voters; Kate White Tudor, Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers; Kelly De Lany, Northwest Adoption Exchange Adoption and Recruitment; Robin Zukoski, Columbia Legal Services; Barbara Trendall, Volunteer Services; Katy Warren, Washington State Headstart and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program; Jamie Lynn Devries, Parent Ambassadors; Timothy Bell, Treehouse; Susan Bishop and Gina Legaz, March of Dimes; Mary Fischer, Institute for Family Development; Veronica Chase, National Multiple Sclerosis Society; Mark Gjurasic, Washington Occupational Therapist Association; and Jackie Derr, Harborview Medical Center and University of Washington Medicine.

(In support with amendment) Tom McBride, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; and Ann Anderson, Central Washington University.

(In support with concerns) Fred Jarrett, King County; Tim Knue, Washington Association for Career and Technical Education; Randy Parr, Washington Education Association; Deb Merle, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Charlie Brown, Schools Alliance; Scott Sigmon, Aging Services of Washington; Jim Theofelis, Mockingbird Society; Michaelene Manion, Kitsap Parent Coalition for Developmental Disabilities; Linda Thompson, Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention; Adam Sherman, Graduate and Professional Student Senate of the University of Washington; and Andrew Lewis, Associated Students of the University of Washington.

(With concerns) Alia Griffing, Washington Federation of State Employees; Dan Coyne, Northwest Food Processers Association and Darigold; John Des Rosier, Life Science Discovery Fund; Christie Hedman and Bob Cooper, Washington Defender Association and Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Joanne Moore, Washington State Office of Public Defense; Toby Guerin, One America; Andrea Piper, Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs; Matt Phillips, Resolution Washington; Karla Salp, Washington Coalition of Crime Victims Advocates; Scott Merriman, Association of Counties; Jim Bamberger, Office of Civil Legal Aid; Sam Meyer, District and Municipal Court Judges Association; Margaret Shepherd, University of Washington; Chris Mulick, Washington State University; Julie Garver, The Evergreen State College; Julia Weinberg, Washington State Nurses Association; Chad Higman, Community Residential Service Association; Melissa Johnson, Association of Alcoholism and Addiction Programs and Physical Therapy Association of Washington; Rich Miller, Washington Health Care Association; Dave Knutson, Washington Center for Assisted Living; Tony Lee, Solid Ground; Margaret-Lee Thompson and Marcie Taylor, Community Employment Alliance; John Wiesman, Clark County Public Health; Lauri Jones, Okanogan County Public Health; Nathan Weed, Washington State Public Health Association; Adrienne Thompson, Professional and Technical Employees Local 17; Dennis Worsham, Public Health Roundtable; Gregory Robinson, Washington Community Mental Health Council; Robin Lester and Connie Brown, Pierce County Human Services; Mary Stevens and Jay Petterson, Youth Suicide Prevention Program; Lauren Platt, Nurse Family Partnership; Mary Selecky, Department of Health; Matt Zuvich, Washington Federation of State Employees; Ingrid McDonald, American Association of Retired Persons; Bernard Duplessis; Jim Kowalkowski, Davenport School District; Jen Estroff, Children's Alliance; Trish McNabb, Community Networks Coalition; Marcy Bowers, Statewide Poverty Action Network; Carey Morris, Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Susie Tracy, Washington State Medical Association; David Parsons, UAW 4121; Seamus Walsh Petrie, Washington Public Employees Association; Joseph Meyer, Washington Student Association of Western Washington University; and Jim Hedrick, Innovate Washington.

(Commented) Don Gerend, Association of Washington Cities and Sammamish Council; Brian Shay, City of Hoquiam; and Nancy Martin, Kitsap County Parent Coalition for Developmental Disabilities.

(Opposed) Bruce Beckett, Washington Restaurant Association; Amber Carter, Association of Washington Business; Don Pierce, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; Jeff Hall, Administrative Office of the Courts; Deborah Woodley; Chyne Osborne and Ellie Menzies, Service Employees International Union Health Care 1199 Northwest; Sue Elliott, Arc of Washington; Donna Patrick, Developmental Disabilities Council; Diana Staden; Emily Rogers, Self-Advocates in Leadership; Hope Reffet and Bonnie Bruce, Washington State Residential Care Council of Adult Family Homes; Len McComb, Washington State Hospital Association; Jim Mattson, Safe Moms-Safe Babies; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Service Employees International Union 725; Arlena Pierson; Patti Dahlman; Jim Musslewhite, Washington HIV/AIDS Citizen Action Network; Anne Lee, Ann Carey, and Catherine Robinson, Team Child; John Austin, State Board of Health; B.J. Cavnor, Lifelong AIDS Alliance; Loni Todd, Service Employees International Union 925; and Ron Main, Roll Your Own Machine Rentals.

(Other) Seth Dawson, Common Ground for Children and Families.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.