HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1014

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                        Law & Justice

Title:  An act relating to obsolete references.

Brief Description:  Correcting obsolete references to the department of community development and the department of trade and economic development.

Sponsors:  Representatives Padden, Dellwo, Costa, Appelwick and Silver; by request of Statute Law Committee.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Law & Justice:  1/11/95, 1/17/95 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 14 members:  Representatives Padden, Chair; Delvin, Vice Chair; Hickel, Vice Chair; Costa, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Carrell; Chappell; Cody; Lambert; McMahan; Morris; Robertson; Sheahan; Smith and Veloria.

Staff:  Bill Perry (786-7123).

Background:  Sometimes legislation is enacted that changes the name of an agency or makes other similar changes.  Often the bill that makes such changes does not include every one of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) sections that has a reference to the agency or subject being affected. 

For instance, the Legislature recently merged two departments of state government.  What were previously the departments of "Community Development" and "Trade and Economic Development" are now a single "Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development."  The bill that made this change contained many sections that deal with the direct makeup, authority, and responsibilities of the agencies.  However, there are dozens of other RCW sections scattered throughout the code that contain references to the prior departments.  As a result, there are currently many statutes that incorrectly still refer to the "Department of Trade and Economic Development" or the "Department of Community Development."

There are other instances as well of obsolete references remaining in the code.

One of the duties of the Code Reviser's Office is to recommend to the Legislature bills to clean up the RCW by removing or changing obsolete references of one kind or another.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Various obsolete references in the Revised Code of Washington are removed or corrected.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The amendment makes an additional technical correction by replacing an obsolete reference to a legislative committee that no longer exists.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill improves the Revised Code of Washington by eliminating obsolete material.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Dennis Cooper, Statute Law Committee (pro).