6386-S.E AMH ERIC ENSL 033

ESSB 6386 - H AMD TO APP COMM AMD (H-5297.5/06) 984

By Representative Ericksen

FAILED 2/24/2006

   On page 210, line 7, reduce the general fund--state appropriation for FY 07 by $25,000

   On page 210, line 17, correct the total.

   On page 213, line 9, after "(14)" strike "$100,000" and insert "$75,000"

   On page 214, line 7, reduce the general fund--state appropriation for FY 07 by $25,000

   On page 214, line 12, correct the total.

   On page 216, line 31, after "(10)" strike "$100,000" and insert "$75,000"

   On page 221, line 18, increase the general fund--state appropriation for FY 07 by $50,000

   On page 221, line 23, correct the total.

   On page 224, after line 9, insert the following:

   "(10) $50,000 of the general fund--state appropriation for fiscal year 2007 is provided solely to the washington state institute for public policy to conduct a study comparing this state with others in the following categories:

   (a) Which states have a constitutional spending limit? Identify states with constitutional spending limits and describe the components of those limits. Determine whether legislatures having constitutional spending limits are more or less likely to exceed spending limits than those having statutory limits.

   (b) Which states have a constitutionally protected reserve fund? Determine if in states where reserve funds are in the constitution if it puts a state in a more fiscally stable position in times of downturns.

   (c) Which states constitutionally require a 60 percent vote to raise taxes? Determine if in states where there is a 60 percent requirement if taxes are less likely to be raised.

   (d) Which states have a "sunshine law" requiring a minimum time of public exposure of acts making appropriations before such legislation may be voted on? Evaluate the impacts of such provisions on public awareness of and participation in the budget process and in enhancing the accountability of budget policy making."

EFFECT: Reduces the appropriation for the Policy Consensus Center at the University of Washington by $25,000 and by $25,000 at Washington State University. Provides $50,000 for the Washington State Institute for Public Policy within The Evergreen State College to conduct a study on constitutional spending limits, constitutional reserves, constitutional provisions requiring a 60% vote to raise taxes and laws requiring a minimum time between appropriations bills being made public and when they may be acted upon. The study will identify all states that have one or more of these provisions. The study will also identify the impact of each provision on the states with those provisions compared to those states without.

FISCAL IMPACT: No net fiscal impact.