HOUSE BILL REPORT

                      HB 1631

                     As Reported By House Committee on:

                              State Government

                               Appropriations

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;

Appropriations, March 5, 1991, DPS.

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).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 26 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Inslee, Vice Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Morton, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Belcher; Bowman; Brekke; Dorn; Ferguson; Fuhrman; Lisk; May; McLean; Mielke; Nealey; Peery; Pruitt; Rust; H. Sommers; Sprenkle; Valle; Vance; Wang; and Wineberry. 

Staff:  Patricia Cazares (786-7071).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee on Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee on State Government:  The substitute bill contains an amendment which removes the appropriation of $300,000 and makes the bill null and void unless it is funded in the budget.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Appropriation: Removed.

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

Testimony For:  The commission has already been a credit to the state of Washington, particularly in assessing baseline conditions among the state's African-American citizens.  The work of the commission is broad-based and has had a positive impact on others as well as on African-Americans.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  James Kelly, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on African-American Affairs.