Brief Description: Eliminating boards and commissions.

Sponsors: Representatives Haigh, Armstrong, Morris, Hatfield, Linville, Ruderman and Rockefeller; by request of Governor Locke.

Hearing Date: 2/6/03

Staff: Anne Warwick (786-7291).

Background:

The Governor and the Office of Financial Management are required to review state boards and commissions, and in every odd-numbered year submit to the Legislature a recommended list of boards and commissions to be terminated or consolidated. During the 1995-1997 biennium, Washington had 381 boards and commissions, down from a high of 569 during the 1991-1993 biennium. Legislation was enacted in 1999 abolishing 33 boards, commissions, and committees and in the 2001 legislative session seven boards, commissions and committees were abolished.

Summary of Bill:

The following boards, councils, or commissions are abolished and related responsibilities of these entities are terminated:

•    Heath Care Policy Technical Advisory Committee (Heath Care Authority): Advises the authority on effective approaches to cost control, quality assurance, and access to health care.

•    Governor's Small Business Improvement Council (Office of the Governor): Identifies regulatory, administrative, and legislative proposals that will improve the entrepreneurial environment for small businesses.

•    Rebuilding Families Advisory Committee (Department of Corrections): Provides community involvement in the planning, development, and implementation of programs at the Washington Corrections Center for Women.

•    Independent Living Advisory Committee (Department of Services for the Blind): Provides guidance and direction to the department's Independent Living Program.

•    Ocean Spot Shrimp Emerging Fishery Advisory Board (Department of Fish and Wildlife): Helps construct options for limiting fishery participation/efforts and provides recommendations.

•    Firearms Range Advisory Committee (Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation): Establishes and reviews Firearm and Archery Range Recreation Program Policy.

•    Water Trail Advisory Committee (Parks and Recreation Commission): Assists and advises the commission in the development of water trail facilities and programs.

•    Community Outdoor Athletic Fields Advisory Council (Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation): Provides information and make recommendations to the IAC on the award of funds from the Youth Athletic Facility grant account.

•    Arthritis Advisory Group (Department of Heath): Required as part of a two-year arthritis planning grant funded by the CDC. Develops and helps implement a Washington arthritis action plan.

•    Committee on Taxation and Advisory Group to the Committee on Taxation (Legislature): Determined how well the current tax system functions. Presented final report of its findings and alternatives to the Ways and Means Committee in the Senate and the Finance Committee in the House on November 30, 2002.

•    Productivity Board (Secretary of State): Provides state agencies and institutions and their employees a means of making innovative contributions toward improving government operations and processes.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2003.