Brief Description: Requiring agency reports to the legislature to be submitted electronically.

Sponsors: By Representatives Sommers, Haigh, Anderson, Hunter, Tom, McDermott, Talcott and Nixon.

Brief Summary of Bill

• Requires state agencies to provide reports to the Legislature in electronic format.

• Requires the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate to provide online sites for reports submitted to the Legislature.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Haigh, Chair; Miloscia, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Ranking Minority Member; Shabro, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hunt, McDermott, Nixon, Tom and Wallace.

This year, state agencies submitted over 200 reports to the Legislature that are required by law. Many of these reports are submitted annually or on a regular basis, while others may be a one-time requirement to complete a study.

In 1998 more than 240 required reports to the Legislature were deleted in statute. Roughly half of the deleted reports were non-recurring reports that were due at a past date. The other half were recurring reports. The frequency of one report was reduced from semi-annual to annual.

In 1999 another 11 obsolete reports were deleted from statute: three on-going reports were eliminated; and three changes were made in the frequency in which some studies and reports were required.

State agencies are required to provide reports to the Legislature in electronic format to the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, who will provide an easily accessible online site for the reports.

Agencies will send a letter to the appropriate legislative committee informing them that the report has been filed electronically to the legislative Internet home page. Agencies may make hard copies available by request.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.