SENATE BILL REPORT

 

                            SB 6303

 

      AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,

                       FEBRUARY 4, 1994

 

 

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

 

SPONSORS: 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 and, on the basis of specified and prioritized criteria, recommend and submit legislation providing for the termination of 25 of the boards and commissions which are required to be reported by the Office of Financial Management.  The legislation must be submitted by January 10, 1995 and the bill may not be amended by either house of the Legislature by less than a unanimous number of those voting.

 

No new board or commission may be created if its creation would increase the total number of boards and commissions above 75 percent of the boards and commissions in existence on the effective date of the act.  Before any new board or commission is established, the Director of the Office of Financial Management must certify that its creation will not violate this limitation.

 

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

 

The requirement that the Governor propose a reduction of 25 percent of existing boards and commissions is changed to 108 boards and commissions including any eliminated by direct legislation in 1994.  The creation of new boards and 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 created by legislation.

 

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