SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    HB 2106

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS,

                                 APRIL 2, 1991

Brief Description:  Authorizing the division of purchasing to donate state‑owned surplus tangible personal property to certain shelters.

SPONSORS:Representatives Anderson, Moyer, O'Brien, Bowman, Pruitt, Grant, Padden, Chandler, Nelson, Prentice, Belcher, McLean, Jones, Ferguson, Sheldon, Vance, Holland, Kremen, Braddock, Wood, Zellinsky, Orr, Van Luven, Heavey, Wineberry, Beck, Winsley, Day, Ogden, Lisk, Leonard, Dellwo, Rayburn, Wang, Roland, Forner and Brekke.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Roach, Vice Chairman; Madsen, Matson, and Sutherland. 

Staff:  Martin Lovinger (786‑7443)

Hearing Dates:April 2, 1991

BACKGROUND:

When state-owned personal property becomes surplus, it becomes the responsibility of the Department of General Administration (GA).  GA may bring the property to a central warehouse and make it available for sale to other state agencies, to nonprofit groups, or to the public.  GA may also sell the surplus goods on site, arrange for some kind of exchange of goods, or dispose of the surplus goods in some other manner.

In 1987, Congress enacted the Homeless Assistance Act.  Under this act, surplus federal property may be donated to qualified shelters which are providing assistance to the homeless.  Surplus items donated under this program include bedding and mattresses, clothing, kitchenware, and tools.  GA administers this program in Washington for the federal government.

SUMMARY:

The Department of General Administration is authorized to donate state-owned surplus, tangible personal property to shelters providing assistance to the homeless.  The shelters must be participants in the Department of Community Development's Emergency Shelter Assistance Program and must be operated by a nonprofit organization or a local government providing emergency or transitional housing for the homeless. 

GA may donate the surplus property only if four conditions are met: 1) GA has made reasonable efforts to determine if any state agency has a requirement for the goods, and no agency has been identified; 2) the agency owning the property has authorized GA to donate the property; 3) the property under consideration is directly germane to the needs of homeless persons, and the shelter agrees to use the property to address these needs; and 4) the director of GA has determined that the donation of the surplus property is in the best interest of the state.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill complements the Homeless Assistance Act passed by the federal government in 1987.  It allows General Administration  to donate appropriate surplus personal property to shelters and thereby further assist the homeless.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Cal Anderson, prime sponsor