FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6063

                          C 288 L 99

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing the state investment board to invest and reinvest moneys in the emergency reserve fund.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Loveland, West, Snyder and Oke).

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Appropriations

Background:  The Emergency Reserve Fund was established in 1995 by Initiative 601 and consists of all General Fund-State revenues that are received each fiscal year in excess of the state General Fund expenditure limit.  By a two-thirds vote of each house, the Legislature may appropriate moneys from the Emergency Reserve Fund only if the appropriation does not exceed the state expenditure limit.  Investment earnings are retained by the Emergency Reserve Fund.

If the Emergency Reserve Fund accumulates moneys in excess of 5 percent of biennial General Fund-State revenues, the excess amount is transferred to the Education Construction Fund for use in construction projects for the common schools and state institutions of higher education.

Fund balances in the state treasury are invested by the State Treasurer.  By law, these investments are limited to various bonds, notes, certificates of deposit, and other specified fixed-income securities.  The State Treasurer is not authorized to invest these balances in more aggressive investments, such as corporate stock.  Recent investment earnings by treasury funds have averaged approximately 5.5 percent annually.

The State Investment Board was established in 1981 to provide for the long-term investment of various state permanent funds and trust accounts.  By state constitutional amendments in 1965, 1968 and 1985, the Permanent Common School Fund and public pension and worker compensation funds were allowed to be invested in such instruments as the Legislature may authorize, including corporate stock.  Recent investments of these funds by the State Investment Board have earned an annual return of approximately 17 percent.  This high rate of return can be attributed to the long-term nature of these trust funds and general stock market performance in recent years.  These returns may not be achievable in the future, and other investments may be more prudent for other funds and accounts.

A related measure, SJR 8208, amends the state Constitution to permit the Legislature to authorize the investment of state funds and accounts in corporate stock.  In the absence of SJR 8208, the investment of the Emergency Reserve Fund would be limited to fixed-income investments.

Summary:  The authority to invest the Emergency Reserve Fund is transferred from the State Treasurer to the State Investment Board.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 39 7

House     93 0

Effective:  July 1, 1999