Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
State Government, Elections & Information Technology Committee |
SSB 5346
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. |
Brief Description: Creating a legislative page scholarship program.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Walsh, Rolfes, Zeiger, Hobbs, Warnick, Pedersen, Nelson, Darneille, Kuderer, Hunt, Keiser, McCoy, Honeyford, Fain, Liias, Cleveland, Sheldon, Conway, Pearson, Frockt, Wilson, Bailey and Hasegawa).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 3/15/17
Staff: Joan Elgee (786-7106).
Background:
The Legislative Page program was established in 1891. Pages are hired as employees during the legislative session and assist with the work of the Legislature by presenting flags, making deliveries, and performing other tasks. Interested youth must apply and gain sponsorship by a legislator to participate.
Ethics statutes prohibit public employees and officials from engaging in activities that pose a conflict of interest with regard to official duties. Exemptions allow officials to solicit gifts and various items of value for specified projects.
Summary of Bill:
The Secretary of the Senate (Secretary) and Chief Clerk (Chief Clerk) of the House of Representatives may administer and conduct the Gina Grant Bull Memorial Page Scholarship program (Program). The Program should provide assistance to students, based on financial need, who qualify for the page program.
A Legislative Page Scholarship Account (Account) is created. Only the Secretary or the Chief Clerk, or their designee, may authorize expenditures from the Account.
The Secretary and Chief Clerk may solicit and accept gifts and other specified items of value for the Program, and may sell, lease, exchange, and expend donations as limited by the donors' terms. Legislators and legislative employees may also solicit the specified items of value for the Program. Monies solicited must be deposited in the Account and used only to establish and operate the Program. The Secretary and Chief Clerk must adopt joint rules to protect the receipt and expenditure of funds.
A section is added to the ethics laws to provide that the Secretary or Chief Clerk and their designees are not prohibited from soliciting and accepting contributions for the Account and that legislators and legislative employees are not prohibited from soliciting gifts for the Account.
The State Treasurer is charged with custody of the Account. The Account is added to the list of accounts that must receive their proportionate share of earnings. The Account is subject to allotment procedures, and an appropriation is not required.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.