HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1180

 

 

 

As Reported by House Committee On:  

Health Care

Appropriations

 

Title:  An act relating to obtaining and expending funds for the public health system.

 

Brief Description:  Obtaining and expending funds for the public health system.

 

Sponsors:  Representatives Cody, Marine, Ruderman, McMorris and Schual‑Berke.

 

Brief History: 

Committee Activity: 

Health Care:  2/2/01, 2/6/01 [DPS];

Appropriations:  2/21/01, 3/8/01 [DP2S(w/o sub HC)].

 

Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill

 

$The Department of Health can solicit funds and place them in a dedicated account.

 

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

 

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Campbell, Republican Co‑Chair; Cody, Democratic Co‑Chair; Schual‑Berke, Democratic Vice Chair; Skinner, Republican Vice Chair; Alexander, Ballasiotes, Conway, Darneille, Edwards, Marine, McMorris, Pennington and Ruderman.

 

Staff:  Dave Knutson (786‑7146).

 

Background:

 

The Department of Health (DOH) is authorized to accept gifts, grants, or other funds.  Current statutory language does not authorize the department to solicit funds from public and private sources.

 

If the department receives gifts or grants, the funds are either treated as unanticipated receipts requiring Office of Financial Management approval, or are deposited in the general fund, requiring appropriation by the Legislature.

 

 

Summary of  Substitute Bill:

 

The Department of Health is authorized to solicit funds from public and private sources.

 

A Public Health Supplemental Account (PHSA)  is created to receive funds solicited by the department to maintain and improve the public health system.  No appropriation is required for the Secretary of the DOH to authorize expenditures from the account.

 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

 

Funds deposited in the PHSA cannot be used to support or add to full-time equivalent staff positions in the DOH.

 

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

 

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

 

Testimony For:  Passage of this legislation will allow the DOH to pursue public and private funding to support important public health services.

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Testified:  Patty Hayes, Department of Health.

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

 

Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Health Care. Signed by 32 members: Representatives Sehlin, Republican Co‑Chair; H. Sommers, Democratic Co‑Chair; Barlean, Republican Vice Chair; Doumit, Democratic Vice Chair; Lisk, Republican Vice Chair; Alexander, Benson, Boldt, Buck, Clements, Cody, Cox, Dunshee, Fromhold, Gombosky, Grant, Kagi, Keiser, Kenney, Kessler, Lambert, Linville, Mastin, McIntire, Mulliken, Pearson, Pflug, Ruderman, D. Schmidt, Schual‑Berke, Talcott and Tokuda.

 

Staff:  Amy Hanson (786‑7118).

 

Summary of Recommendation of Committee On Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee On Health Care:

 

The second substitute bill makes the dedicated account an appropriated account in the state treasury.  The account is no longer invested by the State Investment Board, removing any fiscal impact.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

 

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

 

Testimony For:  This bill would allow the DOH to explore potential public-private funding partnerships to support existing programs.

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Testified:  Patty Hayes, Department of Health.