HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 1327

                       As Passed House

                      February 18, 1991

Title:  An act relating to sunset review responsibilities of the legislative budget committee.

Brief Description:  Revising sunset review responsibilities of the legislative budget committee.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Anderson, Silver, R. Fisher, McLean, Pruitt, Bowman, Moyer, Chandler, Paris, Hochstatter, Wynne, D. Sommers, Miller and Brekke.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

State Government, January 30, 1991, DPA;

Passed House February 18, 1991, 97-1.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Anderson, Chair; Pruitt, Vice Chair; McLean, Ranking Minority Member; Bowman, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler; R. Fisher; Grant; Moyer; O'Brien; and Sheldon. 

Staff:  Linda May (786-7135).

Background:  The Legislative Budget Committee (LBC) is responsible for reviewing state agencies and programs scheduled for termination under the Sunset Act.  Statutes assign the responsibilities of identifying state agencies for sunset review and monitoring and modifying the sunset review schedule to the Select Joint Committee on Sunset Review.  In practice, the Select Joint Committee has not met since 1982.  Agencies have been added to the sunset review schedule by other committees and floor amendments.  The LBC proposed legislation in 1986, 1988, and 1990 to modify the sunset review schedule and make other changes in its workload.

Summary of Bill:  The responsibilities of developing, monitoring, and modifying the sunset review schedule are transferred from the Select Joint Committee on Sunset Review to the Legislative Budget Committee.  The Select Joint Committee is terminated.  The LBC is directed to submit legislation when necessary, adding appropriate agencies or otherwise modifying the sunset review schedule.  When preparing this legislation on the sunset review schedule, the LBC is to consult with and seek recommendations from oversight committees such as the House State Government and Appropriations committees and the Senate Governmental Operations and Ways and Means committees.  The LBC will also consider any recommendations from the governor.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The proposal would allow LBC to use time and resources more efficiently; LBC is an appropriate choice; LBC evaluations and studies already require close coordination with standing committee members and staff.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Jean Silver; and Cheryle Broom, Legislative Budget Committee.