SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5415

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          State & Local Government, February 11, 1999

Title:  An act relating to the elimination and consolidation of boards, commissions, and programs.

Brief Description:  Eliminating and consolidating boards, commissions, and programs.

Sponsors:  Senators Patterson, Horn and McAuliffe; by request of Governor Locke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/8/99, 2/11/99 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5415 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff:  Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background:  The Governor is required by statute to review the boards, commissions, councils, and committees in state government each biennium.  His or her review is to determine which of these entities may be appropriate for elimination or consolidation.  The results of this review are reported to the Legislature and executive request legislation incorporating these suggestions is proposed.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  A total of 33 boards and commissions are eliminated.  The following entities are terminated:

Debt Adjuster; Athlete Regulation; Health Professions Advisory Committee; Health Care Assistants Advisory Committee; Dietitians and Nutritionists Advisory Committee; Council on Vocational Education; Public Pension Commission; Tax Advisory Council; Business and Job Retention Advisory Committee; Community Diversification Advisory Committee; Rural Development Council; Advisory Council on Criminal Justice Services; Public Information Access Policy Task Force; Community Networks Committees; Lower Columbia River Bi-State Water Quality Steering Committee; Lakes Health Plan Committee; Senior Environmental Corps Coordinating Council; Scenic Rivers Committee of Participating Agencies; Clean Washington Center Policy Board; Department of Fisheries Advisory Review Boards for Puget Sound Crab, Trawl Groundfish, Herring, and Commercial Ocean Pink Shrimp; nine Department of Corrections Work Release Siting Committees; and the Washington Conservation Corps Coordinating Council.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The Cemetery Board and the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers are removed from the bill.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Most aspects of the bill are noncontroversial except the merger of the cemetery and funeral boards.  The death industry is merging and the public perceives them to be the same.  A single focal point for complaints against both bodies would reduce the number of hearings and reflect the consolidated, cohesive nature of the industry.

Testimony Against:  Consolidation of the boards is regressive and reduces public representation.  The Cemetery Board regulates the 110 endowment care cemeteries to ensure they meet their fiduciary duties.  This is an entirely different function from licensing, accreditation and continuing education.

Testified:  David Daly, WA Interment Assn. (con); Fred Hellberg, Governor=s Office (pro); Jon Donnellan, DOL Funeral Cemetery Licensing (pro); Frank Wilson, Cemetery Board (pro); Marvin Holappa, Peoples Memorial Assn. (pro); Peggy Weathermon, Dept. of Corrections (pro); Ron Weaver, Dept. of Health (pro); Dave Sharp, WA State Funeral Directors Assn. (con); Gene Lux, Funeral Embalmers Board (pro).