HB 2095 - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS PASSED LEGISLATURE)

     Changes reporting requirements for architectural and engineering firms from annual to biennial reports.

VETO MESSAGE ON HB 2095

                   May 11, 2001

To the Honorable Speakers and Members,

  The House of Representatives of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval, House Bill No 2095 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to procurement of architectural and engineering services;"

     House Bill No. 2095 would have required that when state and local government agencies procure architectural and engineering services, they must encourage firms providing these services to submit their qualification and performance data no less than biennially.  Current law encourages annual submittal.

     I understand that at least one local government agency believes that annual submittal and review of this data results in unnecessary cost impacts, which could be lessened if review were to occur on a biennial basis.  However, since under current law annual submittals clearly are only encouraged, not required, I believe that government agencies already have sufficient flexibility under the law to accept the data biennially, particularly if annual submittal results in unreasonable financial burdens.  Therefore, the change proposed by the bill is not necessary.

     For these reasons I have vetoed House Bill No. 2095 in its entirety.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Gary Locke

                   Governor