SENATE BILL REPORT

                           ESSB 6303

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 14, 1994

Brief Description:  Providing for the elimination of state boards and commissions.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Quigley, Haugen, Snyder, McAuliffe, Roach, Franklin, McDonald, Hargrove, Pelz, Bauer, Wojahn, Williams, Prentice, Sheldon, Loveland, Skratek, Owen, Ludwig, Sutherland, A. Smith, Winsley, Spanel, West, Moyer, Vognild, M. Rasmussen, Oke, Anderson and Drew)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6303 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, McCaslin, Oke, Owen and Winsley.

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786‑7754)

Hearing Dates: February 3, 1994;  February 4, 1994

BACKGROUND:

State boards and commissions may be created by express legislation or by executive action pursuant to general authority granted to an agency.  Boards and commissions are created to serve a variety of governmental functions, including adjudication of disputes, administration of institutions, establishment of licensing standards, and, often, to provide citizen or expert advice.

Because of concern over the growing number of boards and commissions, the Office of Financial Management is required to file a report every two years identifying each state board or commission which is funded by the state.  Notwithstanding the compilation of this report, the number of state boards and commissions has continued to grow.  Between 1991 and 1993 the number of reported state boards and commissions grew from 415 to 569.

SUMMARY:

The Governor is required to conduct a review of all state boards and commissions which are required to be included in the biannual report of the Office of Financial Management.  Prior to January 10, 1995, the Governor shall make recommendations and submit legislation terminating or consolidating boards or commissions which do not meet specified and prioritized criteria.  The list of boards and commissions proposed for elimination or consolidation in the Governor's legislation may not be added to or deleted from by either house of the Legislature except by unanimous vote of those voting.

The creation of new boards or commissions is subject to the approval of the Director of Financial Management and may not exceed the number eliminated under this act less the number which may be subsequently created by the Legislature.

Appropriation: none 

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

TESTIMONY FOR:

Establishes a process and criteria for systematically reducing and controlling the number of state-funded boards and commissions.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Senator Quigley; James H. Noel, WA Funeral Directors