HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 2159

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 Passed Legislature

Title: An act relating to making expenditures from the budget stabilization account for declared catastrophic events.

Brief Description: Making expenditures from the budget stabilization account for declared catastrophic events.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representative Ormsby).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Appropriations: 4/22/19 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 4/25/19, 80-18.

Passed Senate: 4/28/19, 46-3.

Passed Legislature.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Appropriates funding from the Budget Stabilization Account for the Department of Natural Resources' fire suppression costs in fiscal year 2019.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 32 members: Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Bergquist, 2nd Vice Chair; Robinson, 1st Vice Chair; Stokesbary, Ranking Minority Member; MacEwen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Caldier, Chandler, Cody, Dolan, Dye, Fitzgibbon, Hansen, Hoff, Hudgins, Jinkins, Kraft, Macri, Mosbrucker, Pettigrew, Pollet, Ryu, Schmick, Senn, Springer, Stanford, Steele, Sullivan, Sutherland, Tarleton, Tharinger, Volz and Ybarra.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Rude, Assistant Ranking Minority Member.

Staff: Dan Jones (786-7118).

Background:

In 2007 the voters ratified a constitutional amendment that created the Budget Stabilization Account (BSA) as Article VII, section 12 of the Washington Constitution (state Constitution).  Each year, the State Treasurer must deposit 1 percent of general state revenues (GSR) into the constitutionally created BSA.  The term GSR is defined in the state Constitution and is generally synonymous with the statutory State General Fund.

 

In general, appropriations from the BSA require a three-fifths majority in each house of the Legislature, but in the case of low employment growth or a state of emergency resulting from a catastrophic event, the Legislature may appropriate from the BSA with a constitutional majority vote of each house.  On July 31, 2018, Governor Inslee declared a state of emergency in all counties due to wildfires.

 

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency generally responsible for suppressing wildfires, especially on state and private forested lands. When the DNR's wildfire suppression costs exceed the amounts provided for this purpose in the DNR's base budget, the Legislature typically provides additional funding in a supplemental budget or in separate legislation.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The gubernatorial declaration of emergency on July 31, 2018, due to wildfires is cited.

 

An appropriation of $42,342,000 is authorized from the Budget Stabilization Account for fiscal year 2019 for the Department of Natural Resources' fire suppression costs during the 2018 fire season.

 

An emergency clause is included, making the bill effective immediately.

Appropriation: The sum of $42,342,000 is appropriated from the Budget Stabilization Account for fiscal year 2019.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) None.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.