HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 2676

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to the restructuring of boards, committees, commissions and councils.

Brief Description:  Restructuring boards, committees, commissions and councils.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Dunshee, Reams, Anderson, Patterson, Bray, R. Meyers, Basich, Johanson, Pruitt, Ogden, Wolfe, G. Cole, Moak, Valle, H. Myers, Kremen, Silver, Kessler, Conway, Cothern, Morris, Rayburn and J. Kohl; by request of Governor Lowry).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Appropriations, February 3, 1994, DPS;

Passed House, February 11, 1994, 97-0;

  Senate amended;

  House concurred;

  Passed Legislature, March 14, 1994, 93-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 23 members:  Representatives Sommers, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Carlson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Basich; Cooke; Dellwo; Dorn; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Foreman; Jacobsen; Lemmon; Linville; H. Myers; Peery; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Stevens; Wang and Wolfe.

Staff:  Jennifer Priddy (786-7118).

Background:  In the 1991-93 biennium, the state had 569 operating boards and commissions.  The Office of Financial Management (OFM) reports that while many of the boards and commissions are funded through member fees, state agency management of the boards and commissions has significant indirect costs.

Summary of Bill:  A total of 30 general government boards, councils and commissions are abolished.  A total of 12 health boards and commissions are consolidated into five quality-assurance commissions or councils.  An additional seven health boards and advisory committees are consolidated into one advisory committee.  The Traffic Safety Commission is abolished and duties are transferred to the Washington State Patrol.  The 1993-95 biennium savings totals $117,000 general funds and approximately $331,000 all funds.  The projected 1995-97 biennium savings is $572,000.  The total number of health boards, commission and council members is reduced from 228 to 181, a reduction of 47.  The Governor will review the necessity of all boards and commissions and submit legislation which consolidates or abolishes those which do not meet a specified criteria.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  This act takes effect July 1, 1994.

Testimony For:  The number of boards and commissions has grown significantly in the last two biennia.  Consolidating and abolishing 58 boards, commissions and councils will preserve resources and provide easier access to boards by constituents.  The newly created Chiropractic Care Quality Assurance Commission and Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission will provide consistency to the professions.

Testimony Against:  The bill is a good concept but needs significant rewriting.  The newly-created Allied Physicians Quality Assurance Commission, Vision Care Quality Assurance Commission, Physical Health Therapies Quality Assurance Commission, and Medical Care Quality Assurance Commission should not be created.  The boards that are being consolidated into these quality assurance commissions are working well now.  Consolidating these boards will not save any state funds as all boards are supported by licensing fees.  Additionally, the Ecological Commission and Marine Oversight Board should not be abolished.

Witnesses:  Dr. Richard Seaman, Washington State Medical Association; and Mary Murphy, League of Women Voters (support, except Ecological Commission abolishment).  Peter Bennet, W.S.M.C; Chester Richmond, Marine Oversight Board; and Naki Stevens, People for Puget Sound (support, except Section 1172).  (In support) Fred Hellberg, Governor's Office and Office of Financial Management; Ann Simons, W.A.M.F.T.; Lisa Thatcher, Opticians Association of Washington; Jeff Larsen, Washington Osteopathic Medical Association; Liz Merten, Washington State Nurses Association; Bruce Miyahara, Department of Health; and Rod Handly, Washington State Chiropractic Association and Chiropractic Examination Board.  (In opposition) Sylvia Kauffman, Washington Occupational Therapy Association; Kathy Spong, Washington Association of Optometric Physicians; and Dottie Nelson, W.S.P.T.A.  Jeff Parsons, National Audubon Society (opposes Sections 1161 and 1172), and Dennis Martin, Washington State Trial Lawyers (opposes Section 1153).