HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2284

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Capital Budget

Title:  An act relating to the capital budget.

Brief Description:  Relating to the capital budget.

Sponsors:  Representatives Sehlin and Ogden; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Capital Budget:  2/15/96, 2/16/96 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL BUDGET

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Sehlin, Chairman; Honeyford, Vice Chairman; Hankins; Koster; Mitchell; Pennington; Silver; D. Sommers and L. Thomas.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 6 members:  Representatives Ogden, Ranking Minority Member; Chopp, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Costa; Regala; Romero and Valle.

Staff:  Bill Robinson (786-7140).

Background:  State government operates on a two-year fiscal period beginning on July 1 of odd-numbered years.  In addition to the operating budget adopted every two years, the Legislature also enacts a capital budget providing for land acquisition, construction, facility improvements, and other capital needs of the state and its agencies and institutions.  Many of these projects are financed by the issuance of state general obligation bonds.

In the intervening (even-numbered) years, the Legislature enacts a supplemental capital budget that revises existing appropriations and authorizes additional capital projects.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The 1995-97 biennial capital budget is amended to reduce state bond appropriations to several projects by $5.6 million.  Appropriations from other fund sources are increased by $42 million.  The Department of General Administration, State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, and Washington State Patrol are authorized to enter into financial contracts to acquire real property.  (Contact the Capital Budget Committee at 786-7147 for more details.)

Substitute Bill Compared to Bill:  The substitute reduces the bond portion of the budget by $69.2 million and the total budget by $116.3 million.  (Contact the Capital Budget Committee at 786-7147 for more details.)

Appropriation:  Yes.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony:  Contact the Capital Budget Committee at 786-7147 for details.