SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5984

               AS PASSED SENATE, APRIL 14, 1993

Brief Description:  Using the business enterprises revolving account.

SPONSORS: Senators Sheldon and Rinehart

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Rinehart, Chairman; Spanel, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Gaspard, Hargrove, Hochstatter, Jesernig, McDonald, Owen, Pelz, Quigley, Roach, Snyder, Sutherland, Talmadge, Williams, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Tim Yowell (786‑7715)

Hearing Dates: April 14, 1993

BACKGROUND:

The two largest programs operated by the Department of Services for the Blind are the Vocational Rehabilitation Program and the Business Enterprise Program.  The Vocational Rehabilitation Program receives federal funds of approximately four federal to one state dollar on a matching basis to provide job training, placement, and adaptation services for people with severe visual impairments.  The Business Enterprise Program helps people with blindness obtain and operate food service concessions in federal and state buildings.

Current state law provides that profits from vending machines in state buildings are to be placed into the business enterprise revolving account, where they may only be used for the ongoing operation of the program.  The vending machine profits may not be used to provide vocational rehabilitation services, where they could earn federal matching dollars.

SUMMARY:

Restrictions on the use of state funds in the business enterprises revolving account are eliminated.  Profits from vending machines in state and local public buildings may be used for any vocational rehabilitation service on behalf of people with visual impairments.  Vocational rehabilitation funds may be used for any purpose which is allowable under federal rules.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:  None

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  No one