SB 6155-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Provides appropriations and authorizes expenditures for capital improvements.

VETO MESSAGE ON SSB 6155

                   June 26, 2001

To the Honorable President and Members,

  The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval as to parts of sections 354 and 612 of Substitute Senate Bill No. 6155 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to the capital budget;"

     My reasons for vetoing these sections are as follows:

Section 354(3), page 93, Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation

This subsection would have provided $1 million for a grant to the People for Salmon organization to coordinate and implement volunteer salmon recovery efforts.  I whole-heartedly endorse volunteerism in support of salmon recovery.  However, I continue to oppose direct appropriation of dollars to projects, which have not been through the normal Salmon Recovery Funding Board review process.  We must preserve the Board's authority to make the best decisions about how state and federal salmon recovery money is spent.

Section 612, page 126, lines 1 - 5, School for the Deaf:  Phase 2B

This appropriation language would have unnecessarily delayed the design of the renovation of the School for the Deaf by more than two years.  Since the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) and public policy studies are directed at capacity planning and educational delivery systems, their findings are not expected to significantly alter the legislative-directed master plan and facility program studies recently completed by the school.  This appropriation funds the preliminary design of the campus renovation to address student safety, energy efficiency and educational program delivery, and the project should not be delayed for additional studies.

     For these reasons I have vetoed portions of sections 354 and 612 of Substitute Senate Bill No. 6155.

     With the exception of those portions of sections 354 and 612 as specified above, Substitute Senate Bill No. 6155 is approved.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Gary Locke

                   Governor