SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   ESHB 1631

            AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, MARCH 2, 1992

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

SPONSORS:  House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by 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).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Gaspard, Hayner, M. Kreidler, Metcalf, Murray, Newhouse, Niemi, Owen, Rinehart, L. Smith, Talmadge, West, Williams, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Martin Chaw (786-7715)

Hearing Dates:February 27, 1992; March 2, 1992

BACKGROUND:

The Commission on African-American Affairs was created in 1989 under Executive Order 89-05.  The commission consists of nine members and one Executive Director, each of whom are appointed and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.  The salary for the Executive Director is established by the Governor.  In addition, two staff persons provide administrative support to the Executive Director.

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 revised 1991-93 biennial appropriation for the commission totals $279,000 GF-S and three FTEs.

SUMMARY:

The Washington State Commission on African-American Affairs is established, by statute, under Chapter 43 RCW.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Establishing the Commission on African-American Affairs in statute is essential to show the African-American community and the public that the Legislature supports the endeavors of the commission.  The commission serves as a focal point for the African-American community and provides a medium for bringing issues facing the African-American community to the forefront.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Representative Jesse Wineberry; Representative Rosa Franklin; Representative Clyde Ballard; Senator Dwight Pelz; James Kelly, Commission on African-American Affairs; Patricia Lee, Commission on Asian-American Affairs; Jerry Martinez, Commission on Hispanic Affairs; Nat Jackson; Reverend F. S. Rhoades; Reverend Brazil; Louis Cooper; Rebecca Summers; Thomas Dixon