BILL REQ. #:  H-4102.1 

Read first time 01/22/2004.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

     AN ACT Relating to improving the accountability of Washington's industrial insurance system; adding a new section to chapter 51.04 RCW; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 51.04 RCW to read as follows:
     PRIORITIES OF GOVERNMENT. The department must continuously improve in quality, efficiency, and effectiveness to increase public trust in the way the department operates and delivers services so that employers and workers receive maximum value for their premium dollars. Further, the department must establish priorities for the delivery of its services and annually assess whether the department's programs and activities contribute to the department's priorities. The highest priority programs must be evaluated to determine if they are operating at maximum efficiency, and the lowest priority programs must be assessed to determine their continued viability. The department shall release its annual assessment to the citizens of the state, the governor, and the appropriate legislative committees by January 1st of each year.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   FUNDING PLAN. By September 1, 2004, the department of labor and industries shall develop a plan for funding the administration of department programs not related to the administration of Title 51 RCW in the 2005-07 and subsequent biennial budgets. By September 1, 2004, the department shall report on this plan to the house of representatives committees on appropriations, and commerce and labor, or their successor committees, and the senate committees on ways and means, and commerce and trade, or their successor committees.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   Captions used in this act are not any part of the law.