FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2993

                         C 120 L 92

                     Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Creating the rural health access account.

By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Orr, Locke, Inslee, Spanel, Rayburn, Roland and Rasmussen).

House Committee on Appropriations

Background:  The Department of Health is responsible for a variety of rural health programs.  Currently grants for these programs must be treated as unanticipated receipts or go through the appropriations process.  Authority to expend grants lapses at the end of the biennium.  A number of rural health organizations have expressed interest in augmenting state funding for rural health programs if a dedicated fund is established.

Summary:  The Rural Health Access Account is established in the custody of the treasurer as a non-appropriated fund.  Grants and gifts intended to improve rural health services may be deposited in the fund. Balances remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium will not revert to the General Fund.  Costs incurred by the Health Department to administer the account will be paid from the account.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  96   0

Senate 44   1

Effective:    June 11, 1992