SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6246

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 Senate Committee On:

Ways & Means, February 25, 2016

Title: An act relating to fiscal matters.

Brief Description: Making 2016 supplemental operating appropriations.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Hill and Hargrove; by request of Office of Financial Management).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 1/11/16, 2/24/16, 2/25/16 [DPS, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6246 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Hill, Chair; Braun, Vice Chair; Dammeier, Vice Chair; Honeyford, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Bailey, Becker, Brown, Hewitt, O'Ban, Padden, Parlette, Schoesler and Warnick.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Hargrove, Ranking Member; Keiser, Assistant Ranking Member on the Capital Budget; Ranker, Ranking Minority Member, Operating; Billig, Conway, Darneille, Hasegawa, Nelson, Pedersen and Rolfes.

Staff: Steve Jones (786-7440)

Background: The operating expenses of the state government and its agencies and programs are funded on a biennial basis by an omnibus operations budget adopted by the Legislature in odd-numbered years. In subsequent legislative sessions, a supplemental budget is adopted, making various modifications to agency appropriations. State operating expenses are paid from the state general fund and from various dedicated funds and accounts.

Summary of Bill: The bill as referred to committee not considered.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): The 2015-17 biennial appropriations for the various agencies and programs of the state are modified. For detailed information, please see the website of the Senate Ways & Means Committee: http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/WM/Pages/default.aspx.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute): Appropriations are modified.

Appropriation: Various

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: Please refer to the February 24, 2016 recording of the public hearing.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Doug Nelson, PSE/SEIU 1948; Becca Kenna-Schenk, Western Washington University; Chris Mulick, Washington State University; JoAnn Taricani, University of Washington; David Buri, Eastern Washington University; Genessee Adkins, University of Washington; Gerry O'Keefe, Washington Public Ports Association; Lisa Thatcher, Port of Tacoma; Jim Hedrick, Port of Everett; Seth Dawson, National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI WA.; Len Mc Comb, Washington State Hospital Association; Annie Blackledge, Lamar Campbell, The Mockingbird Society; Kyle Long, Maxim Healthcare, Home Care Association of WA; Sheri Smith, Avail Home Health, Inc. / Administrator; Nick Federici, Pioneer Human Services; Sophia Byrd McSherry, Office of Public Defense; Eric Lohnes, Association of Washington Business.

CON: Kim Mead, President of Washington Education Association; Ken Kanikeberg, Office Superintendent of Public Instruction; Bruce Wishart, Sierra Club / Puget Soundkeeper; James McMahan, WA Assoc Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; Alex Hur, SEIU 925; Tom McBride, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; Josh Weiss, WA ST Association of Counties; Edna Fund, Lewis County Commissioner; Bud Blake, Thurston County Commissioner; Callie Dietz, Administrative Office of the Courts; Victoria Lincoln, Association of WA Cities; Tracey Burrows, Municipal Research & Services Center.

OTHER: Laura Wells, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids; Melissa Johnson, Washington State Association of Headstart & ECEAP Programs; Jennifer Jennings-Shaffer, Natasha Fecteau, Ruvine Jimenez, Children's Alliance; Melissa Gombosky, ESD 105; Bob Cooper, Washington Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; Kristin Wiggins; Eleanor Valentin; Josie Ellison, Associated Students of Western Washington University; Nicholas Lutes, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Jeff Beaulac, Student Governmental Liaison, The Evergreen State College; Seamus Petrie, Washington Public Employees Association; Abby Moore, Regional Support Networks; Joe Valentine, North Sound Regional Support Network; Lindsey Grad, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW; Matt Zuvich, WFSE; Kate White Tudor, Washington Academy of Physician Assistants; Ann Christian, Washington Council for Behavioral Health; Laurie Lippold, Partners for Our Children; Robin Zukoski, Columbia Legal Services; Tonia Morrison, Washington State Parent Allies Coalition; Melissa Johnson, Community Residential Services Association; Kate Baber, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance/Homelessness Policy & Advocacy Specialist; Janelle Rothfolk, Catholic Community Services of Western Washington; Meg Martin, Interfaith Works Community Shelter/Program Director; Kira Zylstra, All Home; Diana Stadden, The Arc Of WA; Melanie Smith, Wellspring Family Services; Pete Subkoviak, SEIU 775; Claire Lane, Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition; Jerry Reilly, ElderCare Alliance; Sean Graham, Washington State Medical Association; Tacy Reading, Food Lifeline; Lee Phillips, Sunrise Services, Inc.; Noah Seidel, Self Advocates in Leadership; John Ficker, Adult Family Home Council; Tom McBride, Amerigroup; Hillary Madsen, Columbia Legal Services; Ivanova Smith, People First of Washington; James King, WA St HVACR Assn; Melanie Stewart, Pierce County Alliance.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.