1399-S

AN ACT Relating to greater fiscal responsibility and accountability during the budget adoption process by providing for a modified zero-base budget review; adding new sections to chapter 43.88 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The first year of every biennium, at least two general areas of responsibility in the operating budget must be subject to a modified zero-base budget review, known as the review. The review will analyze the success or failure of the programs and the associated costs based on the legislative intent and the efficiency of the program. The review of the program will be done without reference to past incremental funding. The review will only include the state portion of the general fund. The legislature shall consider the results of the review when adopting the biennial operating budget.

(2) The zero-base budget review must include estimates on the program's administrative cost. The estimate should include a break down of the cost for programs included in the budget base. The proposed enhancements must receive a similar review for anticipated administrative costs.

(3) The review must also include an estimate on the amount of funds or benefits that actually reach the intended recipients.

(4) A cost benefit analysis may also be performed for programs in the budget base or part of the essential requirement level. The enhancements must receive a similar review for anticipated administrative costs.

(5) The review shall include an estimate of the total cost to operate the program as it relates to funding from the state portion of the general fund.

(6) The review shall include an estimate of the major costs of operating the program.

(7) The modified zero-base budget review of each biennium's operating budget will consist of three biennial budget reviews of funding from the state portion of the general fund. The first modified zero-base budget review shall consist of the appropriations for the department of social and health services and general government. The general areas of general government include but are not limited to: The legislature and legislative agencies; the judiciary and judicial agencies; the office of the governor; the office of financial management; and the remaining general government. The review shall be completed no later than September 1, 1996. The second review shall consist of appropriations for the remaining human services and natural resources areas. The second modified zero-base budget review shall be completed no later than September 1, 1998. The third review shall consist of appropriations for education for public schools, four-year schools, community and technical colleges, transportation, and special appropriations. The third review shall be completed by September 1, 2000. When the three modified zero-base budget reviews are completed by September 1, 2000, the reviews will start over again in the next biennial budget of 2001-2003 and will continue indefinitely.

(8) The modified zero-base budget review shall be completed by both the house of representatives appropriations committee and the senate committee on ways and means. The committees shall independently complete their modified zero-base budget review. The house of representatives appropriations committee review must be completed prior to the release of the house of representatives operating budget proposal. The senate committee on ways and means review must be completed prior to the release of the senate committee on ways and means operating budget proposal.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The first modified zero-base budget review shall include the department of social and health services and the general areas of general government including but not limited to: The legislature and legislative agencies; and the judiciary and judicial agencies.

(2) General government includes but is not limited to all the general fund--state appropriations for the office of the governor, office of the lieutenant governor, public disclosure commission, secretary of state, commission on Asian-American affairs, state treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, office of financial management, committee for deferred compensation, commission on Hispanic affairs, department of retirement systems, department of revenue, board of tax appeals, municipal research council, office of minority and women's business enterprises, department of general administration, board of accountancy, liquor control board, military department, public employment relations commission, and any other programs, boards, or commissions related to general government.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The second modified zero-base budget review shall include the remaining areas of human services excluding the department of social and health services, natural resources, and the transportation area.

(2) Human services includes but is not limited to all the general fund--state appropriations for the health care authority, department of health, department of community, trade, and economic development, human rights commission, department of labor and industries, indeterminate sentence review board, department of veterans affairs, department of corrections, department of services for the blind, sentencing guidelines commission, employment security department, and any other programs related to human services.

(3) Natural resources includes but is not limited to all the general fund--state appropriations for the state energy office, Columbia river gorge commission, department of ecology, parks and recreation commission, interagency committee for outdoor recreation, environmental hearings office, conservation commission, Puget Sound water quality authority, department of fish and wildlife, department of natural resources, department of agriculture, and any program related to natural resources.

(4) The transportation area includes but is not limited to all the general fund--state appropriations for the department of licensing, Washington state patrol, and other transportation agencies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The third modified zero-base budget review shall include the general area of education funds for public schools, community and technical colleges, four-year schools, the higher education coordinating board, funding relating to higher education, and special appropriations.

(2) Public schools include but are not limited to: Funding for public schools, funding related to kindergarten through twelfth grade. The biennial modified zero-base budget review shall exclude appropriations for basic education.

(3) Higher education shall include all funding for four-year schools, community and technical colleges, and the remaining funding for education.

(4) Special appropriations includes but is not limited to all the general fund--state appropriations for the governor, belated claims, sundry claims, retirement contributions, state revenue for distribution, and any other programs related to special appropriations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) To plan for the zero-base budget review, a joint select committee consisting of the chairperson and the ranking minority member of both the house of representatives appropriations committee and the senate ways and means committee will coordinate with the director of financial management to establish the method and format for reporting information to the legislature.

(2) The joint select committee, in consultation with the director of financial management, will decide what is required from each agency to perform the zero-base budget review within the period specified within this chapter. The required information from the executive agencies will include financial, accounting, and other program-related data.

(3) Planning meetings for the requirements from the executive agencies must start no later than June 1, 1995. The joint select committee must decide on the final format of the required information to perform zero-base budget review for agencies that receive appropriations for social and health services and general government by August 1, 1995.

(4) The executive agencies that receive general fund appropriations for social and health services and general government must complete the requested information for the zero-base budget review and must provide it to the senate committee on ways and means and the house of representatives appropriations committee, no later than December 15, 1995. Every six years after completion of the first review of December 15, 1995, the new review must be completed.

(5) The joint select committee must decide on the final format of the required information to perform zero-base budget review for agencies that receive appropriations for other human services, natural resources, and transportation by July 1, 1997.

(6) The agencies that receive general fund appropriations for other human services, natural resources, and transportation must complete the requested information for the zero-base budget review, and must provide it to the senate committee on ways and means and the house of representatives appropriations committee, no later than December 15, 1997. Every six years after completion of the first review of December 15, 1997, the new review must be completed.

(7) The joint select committee must decide on the final format of the required information to perform zero-base budget review for agencies that receive appropriations for public schools, community and technical colleges, colleges and universities, the higher education coordinating board, and special appropriations by July 1, 1999.

(8) The executive agencies that receive general fund appropriations for public schools, community and technical colleges, colleges, universities, the higher education coordinating board, and special appropriations must complete the requested information for the zero-base budget review, and must provide it to the senate committee on ways and means and the house of representatives appropriations committee, no later than December 15, 1999. Every six years after completion of the first review of December 15, 1999, the new review must be completed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 5 of this act are each added to chapter 43.88 RCW.