HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1631

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                      State Government

Title:  An act relating to the commission on African-American affairs.

Brief Description:  Establishing in statute the commission on African-American affairs.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Wineberry, McLean, Franklin, Anderson, Ballard, Ebersole, Ferguson, Miller, Hine, Horn, Prince, Prentice, Holland, O'Brien, May, Wang, Fuhrman, Belcher, Bowman, Heavey, Van Luven, Phillips, Paris, Hargrove, Lisk, Spanel, Moyer, Braddock, Brumsickle, R. Fisher, D. Sommers, Appelwick, Padden, R. Meyers, Peery, Tate, Jones, Betrozoff, Cole, Dorn, Grant, Ludwig, Valle, Rayburn, Sheldon, Riley, H. Myers, Pruitt, Nelson, Kremen, Zellinsky, Dellwo, Sprenkle, Jacobsen, Scott, Rust, Ogden, G. Fisher, Bray, Cantwell, Inslee, Brough, R. King, Winsley, Basich, Leonard, Locke, Orr, Cooper, Brekke, Rasmussen, P. Johnson and Casada.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

State Government, February 15, 1991, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Anderson, Chair; Pruitt, Vice Chair; McLean, Ranking Minority Member; Bowman, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler; Grant; Moyer; O'Brien; and Sheldon.

Staff:  Linda May (786-7135).

Background:  On June 20, 1989, the governor signed Executive Order 95-05 establishing the Washington State Commission on African-American Affairs.  The commission consists of nine members, who are appointed by the governor.  The commission is administered by an executive director, who is also appointed by the governor.  The first commission members and executive director were appointed in November 1989.  In addition to the executive director, there are two staff members with the commission.

The commission has adopted as its mission the development and promotion of public policy to enhance the social, health, economic, political and educational welfare of African-American people in Washington.

The governor's proposed budget contains a request for $284,000 for the commission for the 1991-93 biennium.

Summary of Bill:  The Washington State Commission on African-American Affairs is established in statute.  The bill contains an appropriation request for $300,000 to the commission for the 1991-93 biennium.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 5, 1991.

Appropriation:  Yes.

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

Testimony For:  The commission has already been a credit to Washington, particularly in assessing baseline conditions among the state's African-American citizens.  Establishing the commission in statute gives it more permanence.  The work of the commission benefits others as well as African-Americans.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Rosa Franklin; Representative Jesse Wineberry; and James Kelly and T.J. Vassar, WA State Commission on African-American Affairs (all in favor).