SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5103

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                Ways & Means, January 19, 1995

Title:  An act relating to fiscal matters.

Brief Description:  Making supplemental appropriations for the 1993‑95 biennium.

Sponsors:  Senators Rinehart and West; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ways & Means:  1/11/95, 1/19/95 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5103 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

  Signed by Senators Rinehart, Chair; Loveland, Vice Chair; Bauer, Cantu, Drew, Finkbeiner, Fraser, Gaspard, Hargrove, Hochstatter, Johnson, Long, McDonald, Moyer, Pelz, Quigley, Roach, Snyder, Spanel, Strannigan, Sutherland, West and Winsley.

Staff:  Steve Jones (786-7440)

Background:  The agencies and institutions of state government operate on a fiscal biennium beginning on July 1 of each odd-numbered year.  The omnibus biennial appropriations act is adopted by the Legislature during the legislative session preceding the beginning of the biennium.  Supplemental budgets are considered in subsequent legislative sessions.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  1993-95 biennial appropriations for various state agencies are modified.  Significant appropriations from the state General Fund include $48 million for costs associated with the 1994 forest fires, $48 million to replace shortfalls in timber revenue for common school construction, and $18 million for educational technology in community and technical colleges.  Reductions are made in prior appropriations to reflect reduced Medicaid costs ($86 million) and lower-than-anticipated enrollments in the public school system ($43 million).  The net increase in state General Fund appropriations is $40 million.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill (the Governor's proposed supplemental budget) included an appropriation of $127 million from the General Fund to pre-pay 1995-97 debt service on state bonds, which is deleted in the substitute bill.  A $40 million General Fund appropriation for a Human Resources Information System, included in the original bill, is deferred in the substitute bill for consideration in the 1995-97 budget act.  The original bill does not include funding for educational technology item.  Other appropriations are modified in the substitute bill.

Appropriation:  $40 million General Fund--State.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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