HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. HB 1141

Eliminating boards and commissions                   Public Hrg:  2/7/97

Brief Title

Reps. Scott/Dunshee/Gov. Lowry Request               Staff Contact: B. Mauldin

Sponsor                                    Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7093

BACKGROUND:

The Governor is required to review state boards and commissions, and in every odd-numbered year submit to the Legislature a recommended list of boards and commissions to be terminated or consolidated.  In 1993-95, Washington had 478 boards and commissions, down from a high of 569 in 1991-93.  Each board or commission operates in conjunction with and reports to a particular state agency or the Governor=s office. 

The State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers licenses funeral directors and embalmers, and funeral establishments.  The Cemetery Board licenses cemetery authorities.

Under current rules, every funeral establishment must apply for a separate license for each of its branches, in addition to the license for its headquarter=s location. 

Every cemetery authority selling prearrangement services is required to submit to the cemetery board an annual financial report of its prearrangement trust fund.  Any report from a trust fund totaling more than $500,000 must be verified by a certified public accountant.

SUMMARY

Fourteen boards and commissions are abolished.  These include the Health Care Assistants Advisory Committee, Washington State Collection Agency Board, Washington State Council on Vocational Education, Criminal Justice Services Advisory Council, Lower Columbia Bi-State Water Quality Steering Committee, and Public Information Access Policy Task Force.  In addition, the Local Government Advisory Committee and Community Diversification Program Advisory Committee to the Department of Community Trade and Economic Development are abolished.  Six regional committees advising the secretary of Corrections on locations for new work release programs are also abolished.

                                                     Continued

HB 1141 - Page 2

The State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers is merged with the Cemetery Board to form a single board, the Funeral and Cemetery Board.  The Funeral and Cemetery Board undertakes regulation of all entities formerly regulated by the two separate boards.

The rule that funeral establishments must register each branch location separately is codified into law.

Annual financial reports of prearrangement trust funds of more than $500,000 are no longer required to be verified by a certified public accountant.  Such verification is left to the discretion of the Funeral and Cemetery Board.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 1997.

FISCAL NOTE:  Requested February 3, 1997.