SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5303

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Government Operations, February 21, 1995

Title:  An act relating to official travel by public officers and employees.

Brief Description:  Restricting public and municipal officers and public employees' use of first class airplane accommodations and luxury hotels if traveling on public business.

Sponsors:  Senators Heavey, Quigley, Winsley, Deccio, Hochstatter and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  1/31/95, 2/21/95 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5303 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Hale, Heavey, McCaslin and Winsley.

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786-7754)

Background:  When traveling on public business, state and local government officers and employees are not expressly prohibited from flying first class.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  When traveling on public business at public expense, state and local government officers and employees must minimize travel expenses by obtaining the least costly air-fare for the most direct and timely routing on the carrier selected unless otherwise required to accommodate a person with disabilities when air travel is required. 

Violations of this act constitute a violation of the state ethics law and are subject to the procedures and sanctions administered by the state ethics boards, and a violation of the statutory sanctions pertaining to municipal officers, which include penalties and forfeiture of office.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill prohibited state and local government employees and officials: (1) from staying in luxury or deluxe accommodations when standard grade facilities are available;  (2) from accruing any benefits such as frequent flyer mileage credit resulting from official travel for their personal use; and (3) from receiving first class air transportation or luxury or deluxe lodging as a gift when on official business.  Accrued air travel mileage benefits must be applied to the account of the government entity paying for the travel.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 20, 1995.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  It is not clear what luxury or deluxe facilities are.  Luxury and deluxe may include business class in foreign cities.

Testified:  Stan Finkelstein, AWC; Pat Jones, WA Public Ports Assn. (con).