VETO MESSAGE ON HB 1525-S

                        May 15, 1991

To the Honorable, the House

  of Representatives of the

  State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      I am returning herewith, without my approval, Substitute House Bill No. 1525 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to government travel and subsistence rates for educational employees."

      This bill allows local school districts and educational service districts to process travel payments through the Superintendent of Public Instruction for district travel costs in an attempt to share in the benefit of state negotiated travel rates.  Districts would reimburse the Superintendent of Public Instruction for payments to the local district employees.  The bill also requires the Department of General Administration to take all reasonable and necessary action to include educational service districts and school districts as direct beneficiaries in any future preferred travel, lodging or subsistence rates contract.

      The Department of General Administration has tried to include political subdivisions in airfare contracts and the providers have not been amendable to including them.  The current state contract specifically excludes political subdivisions.  The Department of General Administration will work with cities, counties and school associations to assist them in developing a mechanism for negotiating as a unit with airfare providers for reduced rates.  The mechanism presented in this bill, however, could violate the existing state contract.  Since the bill cannot be implemented, it provides false hope for any savings.

      For these reasons, I have vetoed Substitute House Bill No. 1525.

                        Respectfully submitted,

                        Booth Gardner

                        Governor