SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1235

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

             Government Operations, April 1, 1997

Title:  An act relating to personal service contracts.

Brief Description:  Prohibiting consultants from charging state agencies for access to data generated under their personal services contracts.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Ogden, McMorris, H. Sommers, Carlson, Wolfe, O'Brien, Dunshee, Kenney, Dickerson, Cole, Mason and Robertson; by request of Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  4/1/97 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chair; Hale, Vice Chair; Anderson, Haugen, Horn, Patterson and Swanson.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  It is state policy to have open competition for personal service contracts and subcontracts to personal service contracts entered into by state agencies, unless specifically exempt.  State policy also provides for legislative and executive review of personal service contracts, to centralize the location of information about personal service contracts for ease of public review, and ensure proper accounting of personal services expenditures.

Questions have arisen as to state ownership of and access to data generated under these personal service contracts.

Summary of Bill: A state agency may not enter into a personal services contract with a consultant under which the consultant could charge additional costs to the agency, The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, or the State Auditor for access to data generated under the contract.  AData@ includes all information that supports the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the consultant=s reports, including computer models and the methodology for those models.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This will give us needed access for audit and oversight purposes.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Val Ogden, prime sponsor (pro).