SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2436

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Commerce & Labor, February 24, 1998

Title:  An act relating to the review and termination of the center for international trade in forest products and the office of public defense under the Washington sunset act.

Brief Description:  Eliminating review and termination of the center for international trade in forest products and delaying review and termination of the office of public defense under the Washington sunset act.

Sponsors:  Representatives McMorris, Huff, Backlund, H. Sommers, Gardner, Wensman, Ogden, Regala and Alexander; by request of Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Commerce & Labor:  2/23/98, 2/24/98 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Schow, Chair; Horn, Vice Chair; Anderson, Franklin, Fraser and Newhouse.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senator Heavey.

Staff:  Patrick Woods (786-7430)

Background:   The Center for International Trade in Forest Products (CINTRAFOR) was  established in statute in 1985.  The center=s initial statutory responsibilities included research, developing industrial technology, coordinating information, and providing education in order to expand forest-based international trade.

CINTRAFOR currently has an annual budget of approximately $570,000 per year of which $103,000 are state funds.  The Joint Legislative Review and Audit Committee is requesting that the center be removed from the sunset process.

The Office of Public Defense is a state agency which administers funds to pay attorneys, court reporters, and court clerks in cases which are on appeal in the State Court of Appeals or the Washington Supreme Court.  The office provides funds for costs related to criminal cases, cases in which parental rights have been terminated, or instances where children have been taken out of the home.  The office contracts with private attorneys to provide these appellate services.

The Office of Public Defense was established in 1996 and has been in operation for less than two years.  The Joint Legislative Review and Audit Committee is requesting that the office=s current sunset termination date be extended from June 30, 2000 to June 30, 2008 in order to better evaluate its efficiency and effectiveness.

Summary of Bill: The Center for International Trade in Forest Products (CINTRAFOR) is reauthorized and removed from the sunset termination process.

The current termination date of the Office of Public Defense is changed from June 30, 2000 to June 30, 2008.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.