S-4403.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6559
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By Senators Fraser, Swecker, Hochstatter, Kohl, Fairley and Franklin
Read first time 01/17/96. Referred to Committee on Ecology & Parks.
AN ACT Relating to developing and maintaining a state-wide benchmarks system; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that the state of Washington recognizes that economic growth cannot be sustained if our human and natural resources are continually exhausted, and only healthy economies generate the resources for continual investment in social, cultural, and environmental protection. The quality of life in our state is sustainable into the future to the extent that both a healthy environment and healthy economy are achieved.
(2) The legislature further finds that it is important to measure progress toward achieving these goals through the regular reporting on state-wide benchmarks, which are quantifiable measures of progress towards economic, environmental, and social goals. A benchmarks system can increase governmental efficiency and accountability by providing periodic feedback on state policies and programs. Benchmarks also provide a means for government agencies to communicate with citizens about long-term trends and progress toward these goals.
(3) It is the intent of the legislature to authorize a study to explore the feasibility of developing and maintaining a state-wide benchmarks system.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The institute of public policy and management at the University of Washington shall prepare a report that reviews and evaluates:
(a) Past and ongoing efforts in Washington to determine appropriate goals, select indicators that track progress in reaching those goals, and develop methods to measure and track indicators over time. The review shall include completed efforts such as the alternatives for Washington, Washington 2000, environment 2010, and studies prepared for the department of community, trade, and economic development, and ongoing efforts including the work by the Washington performance partnership and sustainable Seattle;
(b) Benchmarks that currently exist in state statute or agency plans for their consistency or conflict with each other or with agency‑enabling legislation;
(c) The experience of other states in implementing benchmark programs, especially those of Oregon and Connecticut;
(d) Local government entities, state agencies, business organizations, and labor, agriculture, and citizen interest groups to assess the interest and usefulness of a unified, consistent benchmarks system in linking their individual performance goals to a broader vision of sustainable future progress for the state as a whole; and
(e) A benchmarks development process, developed by working with local governments, citizen organizations, state agencies, and business groups to reconcile conflicts and integrate current goal-tracking systems into a simple, coordinated, long-term, and maintainable benchmarks system.
(2) The study should address issues related to alternative approaches, the accessibility and uses of the benchmarks information, and the connection to growth management plans and state agency budgets.
(3) The study shall be submitted to the appropriate committee of the legislature by January 1, 1997.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The sum of thirty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1997, from the general fund to the University of Washington for the purposes of section 2 of this act.
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