Sponsors: Representatives Dunshee, Alexander, Hunt and Linville; by request of Governor Locke.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

• Makes supplemental capital appropriations for the 2003-05 biennium of $188.4 million.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 17 members: Representatives Dunshee, Chair; Hunt, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Benson, Blake, Chase, Eickmeyer, Flannigan, Hinkle, Kirby, Lantz, Morrell, Murray, O'Brien, Schoesler, G. Simpson and Veloria.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Priest, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bush, Hankins, Mastin, Newhouse, Orcutt and Woods.

Washington is on a biennial budget cycle. The Legislature authorizes expenditures for capital needs in the capital budget for a two-year period, and authorizes bond sales through passage of a bond bill associated with the capital budget. The current capital budget covers the period from July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2005.

Supplemental appropriations are made for the 2003-05 biennium of $188.4 million. (See budget highlights.) These appropriations do not require a bond bill to finance.

The substitute bill adds $2 million for the Small Timber Landowners Program, $50,000 for a sustainable forestry certification study, restores the funding for the community and technical colleges minor works program, and reverses the operating budget transfer of $500,000 from the Wildlife Account. The substitute bill also adds provisions related to selling a state building to TVW, transferring land in Pierce County between Washington State University and the Department of Social and Health Services, making technical corrections, and makes other changes.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately except for sections 116 and 202 which takes effect April 16, 2004.

Testimony For: The fund switches involving the common school account are fine, it diversifies the funding. Funding for higher education projects is important for a variety of reasons, including: (1) UW's Infectious Disease Lab will bring in a one-to-one federal match; (2) WSU's Riverpoint Academic Center will bring much needed student services to that campus and complement its nursing facility; (3) The Evergreen State College's minor works and chemistry lab projects are kept whole; (4) Western Washington University can renovate Bond Hall; and (5) community and technical colleges receive funding to begin several needed projects. Because of lower federal funding, the salmon recovery program is helped by eliminating the provision restricting funding allocations.

Testimony Against or With Concerns: The Forest Riparian Easement Program funding for the 2003-05 biennium should be increased in this supplemental budget. The community and technical college minor works funding reduction should be restored. Chewelah Peak Environmental Learning Center needs additional funding.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Carolyn Tolas, State Board of Education; Marilyn Cox, University of Washington; Bill Robinson, The Nature Conservancy; Judy McNickle, Western Washington University; Paul Parker, Washington Association of Counties; Jeff Gombosky, Eastern Washington University; Mitch Denning; Alliance of Educational Association; Ann Daley, Evergreen State College; Todd Mielke, Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce and Larry Ganders, Washington State University.

(With Concerns) Tom Henderson, State Board for Committee and Technical Colleges and Rainier Houser, Association of Washington School Principles.

(Opposed) Linda Kaminski, Yakima Valley Community College and Martin Flynn, Washington Farm Forestry Association.