HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 2255

                      As Passed House:

                       April 26,  1997

Title:  An act relating to the capital budget.

Brief Description:  Adopting the capital budget.

Sponsors:  Representatives Sehlin, Sullivan and D. Sommers; by request of Governor Locke.

Brief History:

  Floor Activity:

Passed House: 4/26/97, 97-1.

Staff:  Bill Robinson (786-7140).

Background:  The capital budget is one of three budgets used in Washington State to govern state agency expenditures during the state's two-year fiscal biennium.  The capital budget generally includes appropriations for acquisition, construction, and repair of state office buildings, public schools, colleges and universities, prisons, parks, local government infrastructure, and other long-term facility and land investments.  In recent years, the primary funding source used to fund projects authorized in the capital budget has been the sale of state bonds, with the balance coming from dedicated taxes and fees, revenues from state trust lands, and federal grants.

Generally the legislature adopts a biennial capital budget on the odd-numbered years and a supplemental budget on the even-numbered years to make changes or additions to the biennial budget.  The legislature may also adopt separate bills making capital budget appropriations for specific purposes.

Summary of Bill:  The state capital budget for the 1997-99 fiscal biennium (SSB 6063) is amended to add three projects totaling $10 million: (1) $4.7 for the housing assistance program; (2) $4.6 for Heritage Park; and (3) $0.7 for community service facilities. The appropriation for the public participation grant program is transferred from the Department of Community Trade and Economic Development to the Department of Ecology.

Appropriation: $10,000,000 is appropriated from the State Building Construction Account (State Bonds).

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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