SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6124

                    As of January 19, 1998

Title:  An act relating to state government.

Brief Description:  Submitting budget requests by the court of appeals.

Sponsors:  Senators McCaslin, Snyder, West and Haugen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  1/22/98.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Staff:  Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background:  The Court of Appeals has three divisions, the headquarters of which are in Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma.  While agencies of government must submit budget proposals through the Office of Financial Management (OFM), separate and coequal branches of government are not required to do so.  The practice of OFM is to require the Court of Appeals to submit budget requests through OFM.  The specificity of statutory direction on this issue is imprecise enough to raise questions about the correct procedure to use.

Summary of Bill:  It is clarified that the Court of Appeals is part of the judicial branch of government and as such, its budget requests are not subject to prior review by OFM.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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