SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2511

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Government Operations, February 26, 1998

Title:  An act relating to ethics in public service.

Brief Description:  Creating a limited exception for members of boards, commissions, and committees to have a small financial interest in the board's, commission's, or committee's transactions.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Government Administration (originally sponsored by Representatives Wolfe, Chopp, Ogden, Gardner, Butler, Appelwick and Anderson).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/26/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chair; Hale, Vice Chair; Haugen, Horn, Patterson and T. Sheldon.

Staff:  Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background:  State officers and employees generally are not allowed to have a beneficial interest in a transaction that they supervise. 

Summary of Bill:  A member of a state board, commission, or committee may have a beneficial interest of $10,000 or less in a transaction.  If the beneficial interest exceeds $10,000, the member must disclose it, disqualify himself or herself from voting on the transaction, and refrain from influencing or attempting to influence the other votes.

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.