SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 2184

As of March 24, 2003

Title: An act relating to higher education facilities.

Brief Description: Providing for uniform and comprehensive facility inventory and condition data.

Sponsors: House Committee on Capital Budget (originally sponsored by Representatives McIntire, Cox, Dunshee, Kenney and Alexander).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 3/25/03.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Staff: Karen Barrett (786-7711)

Background: Capital budget appropriations for higher education institutions typically fall into one of three categories: 1) providing access for students; 2) facility preservation and renovation; and 3) institutional mission.

A recent study by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) found there is a significant backlog of facility infrastructure projects throughout higher education institutions. One of the recommendations is to sustain and expand the comparable framework approach used by JLARC to assemble information on the condition of facilities.

Summary of Bill: The Office of Financial Management (OFM), in consultation with the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) and higher education institutions, must establish and maintain a system to collect and assemble existing facility information at the various institutions and translate this information into a comparable framework to create a statewide uniform building inventory and condition system.

JLARC and the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee are to provide technical and system design assistance upon request. OFM may allow for possible expansion of this detailed uniform statewide facility inventory and condition system for higher education to other areas of state government.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.