[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to studying the functions of the utilities and transportation commission to transfer them to existing agencies; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) It is the intent of the legislature to encourage congruency among energy policy, technology policy, and economic development policy in order to better serve the citizens of Washington and to improve the economic climate and opportunities throughout the state. This includes policies that support the deployment of current and emerging technologies.

(2) It is further the intent of the legislature that energy and telecommunications regulation reflect a less costly regulatory process that can ultimately benefit the consumer, eliminate duplication of functions, and improve government efficiency.

(3) It is further the intent of the legislature that the state continue to support policies that produce affordable energy.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) A work group is established to develop a restructuring plan to transfer functions currently performed by the utilities and transportation commission to other appropriate existing agencies. The work group will be composed of at least the following state agency representatives:

(a) The director of the office of financial management;

(b) The secretary of the department of health;

(d) The secretary of the department of transportation; and

(e) The director of the utilities and transportation commission.

(2) The work group must keep the following legislative members informed of their deliberations through regular communication:

(a) The chair and ranking minority member of the senate economic development and telecommunications committee and the senate environment, energy, and water committee; and

(b) The chair and ranking minority member of the house of representatives technology, telecommunications, and energy committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The work group must develop a restructuring plan to transfer those functions of the utilities and transportation commission that it determines appropriate to existing agencies. The goals of a restructuring plan are to:

(a) Enhance the ability to coordinate energy, telecommunications, and economic development policy;

(b) Eliminate duplicate functions;

(d) Reduce the number of full-time equivalent staff that transfer to an agency from the utilities and transportation commission by ten percent.

(2) In addition to an examination of functions performed by the utilities and transportation commission, the work group must recommend a restructuring plan that considers the following transfers:

(a) The regulation of energy, gas, and telecommunications functions to the department of community, trade, and economic development;

(b) The regulation of water companies functions to the department of health;

(d) Solid waste, low-level radioactive waste disposal functions to the department of ecology; and

(e) The functions relating to securities and transfers of property by utilities to the attorney general.

(3) The completed restructuring plan must be submitted to the governor and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature by November 1, 2002.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The work group must also examine the rate-making process and determine whether efficiencies and reduced costs to participants in the process can be gained in updating procedures and process deadlines. In addition, the work group must examine the role of the commissioners and administrative law judges to determine whether efficiencies and cost savings can be made.

(2) The work group must consider whether consolidating the operation of the regulatory functions with operation of the energy policy division of the department of community, trade, and economic development can result in efficiencies or savings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act expires July 1, 2003.