HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2330

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to disbursements from the liquor revolving fund.

Brief Description:  Allowing liquor revolving fund disbursements to the death investigations account.

Sponsors:  Representatives McMorris and Scott.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Appropriations:  1/20/00, 1/31/00 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Directs money for the state toxicology lab from the liquor revolving fund into the death investigations account.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 29 members:  Representatives Huff, Republican Co-Chair; H. Sommers, Democratic Co-Chair; Barlean, Republican Vice Chair; Doumit, Democratic Vice Chair; D. Schmidt, Republican Vice Chair; Alexander; Benson; Boldt; Cody; Crouse; Gombosky; Grant; Kagi; Keiser; Kenney; Kessler; Lambert; Linville; Lisk; Mastin; McIntire; Mulliken; Parlette; Regala; Rockefeller; Ruderman; Sullivan; Tokuda and Wensman.

Staff:  Ronda Larson (786-7117).

Background:  The state toxicology laboratory performs all necessary toxicological procedures requested by coroners, medical examiners, and prosecuting attorneys. Legislation enacted during the 1999 session transferred the toxicology lab function from the University of Washington (UW) medical school to the Washington State Patrol. 

Funding for the toxicology lab comes from the liquor revolving fund.  Each biennium, the treasurer transfers $300,000 from the liquor revolving fund to the Washington State Patrol for the toxicology lab.  However, the legislation that transferred the lab to the Washington State Patrol did not specify into which account these liquor revolving fund moneys are to be deposited. As a result, the moneys are not directed into an account from which the Washington State Patrol is authorized to make expenditures.

The death investigations account is an appropriated account that funds various programs, including the Washington State Patrol's toxicology lab.

Summary of Bill:  The biennial transfers to the Washington State Patrol from the liquor revolving fund for the state toxicology lab are deposited into the death investigations account.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill is a technical fix to route the money appropriated for the lab into the death investigations account.  This account is the primary source of funding for the lab.  The bill does not require new funding.  The bill has been a priority of several agencies:  the Washington State Forensic Investigations Council, which oversees the lab, the Washington Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners, and the Washington Association of County Officials.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Debbie Wilke, Washington Association of County Officials and Washington State Forensic Investigations Council.