HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 6175

                 As Passed House - Amended:

                      February 27, 1998

Title:  An act relating to financing contracts.

Brief Description:  Authorizing financing contracts.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators McCaslin, Strannigan, Haugen, Sellar, Brown and Loveland; by request of State Treasurer).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Financial Institutions & Insurance:  2/23/98 [DPA].

Floor Activity:

Passed House - Amended:  2/27/98, 95-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS & INSURANCE

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives L. Thomas, Chairman; Smith, Vice Chairman; Zellinsky, Vice Chairman; Wolfe, Ranking Minority Member; Grant, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Benson; Constantine; Keiser; Sullivan and Wensman.

Staff:  Charlie Gavigan (786-7340).

Background:  State agencies are authorized to enter into financing contracts for the acquisition of real and personal property where the contracts provide payments over a term of more than one year but less than 30 years.  These financing contracts are exempted from the definition of debt in the computation of the statutory and constitutional debt limits.  State agencies are authorized to issue certificates of participation or other types of financing structures subject to the approval of the State Finance Committee.   The Legislature must approve all such contracts for the purchase of buildings and land.  The finance committee may also consolidate existing and new financing contracts into a master contract and make rules for the issuance of financing contracts.

Typically, the State Treasurer issues tax-exempt certificates of participation to private investors and then uses the proceeds to purchase equipment or real estate for state agencies.  The state agencies make lease payments from their operating budget to the State Treasurer to repay the investors.   The state receives title to the property when the contract payments are completed.  The full faith and credit of the state does not stand behind these certificates of participation like it does for the issuance of bonds.

Summary of Bill:  The authorization allowing the State Treasurer to administer a financing contract program for state agencies is expanded to include local governments. With the approval of the local governing body, the State Treasurer can lend money to the local government to purchase equipment or real estate.  Like the state program, the State Treasurer raises the funds through issuing certificates of participation to private investors. The investors are repaid from lease payments made by the local government.   The local government obligation to make payments for a financing contract is not a general obligation of the state.

The State Treasurer is authorized to charge fees to state and local governments to cover actual administrative costs.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This will enable local governments to reduce interest rates they pay on the financing of equipment and real estate.  Smaller local governments in particular will have access to better financing.  This will save local taxpayers money.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Mike Murphy, State Treasurer (supports); Robin Hunt, Thurston County Treasurer (supports); and Roger Ferris, Washington Fire Commission Association (supports).