SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1494

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           State & Local Government, March 29, 1999

Title:  An act relating to the powers of the director of general administration.

Brief Description:  Clarifying the duties of the director of general administration.

Sponsors:  House Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Miloscia, Kenney, Veloria, Romero, Barlean, Ogden and Wolfe; by request of Department of General Administration).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  3/29/99 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Kline and McCaslin.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  The Department of General Administration performs many services for state agencies and political subdivisions.  Some of these services are: buying and leasing of real estate; purchasing goods and insurance; managing bidding and contracts for design and construction of public works; operating the state's mail program and motor pool; and maintaining and preserving state buildings, lands and furnishings on the Capitol Campus.

The department's director has general supervision of the department, which must be organized into divisions to include:  (1) the division of capitol buildings; (2) the division of purchasing; (3) the division of engineering and architecture; and (4) the division of motor vehicle transportation service.  The department has requested a modernization and clarification of the director's organizational and supervisory responsibilities.

Summary of Bill:  Antiquated provisions regarding the director's duties and the internal organization of the Department of General Administration are eliminated and replaced with provisions that more clearly reflect the role and responsibilities of the department and its director.  The four mandated divisions are eliminated and the director is given the responsibility to manage the department in a flexible and intelligent manner as dictated by changing circumstances.  The director may create such administrative structures as the director deems appropriate and must have complete charge and supervisory powers over the department.  The director may also accept gifts and grants related to the purposes of the department.

The requirement that the deputy director serve as head of the department in case a vacancy occurs in the office of the director is repealed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill modernizes and clarifies the director=s duties.  It is essentially the same language as is used for other departments.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Grant Fredricks, GA (pro).