Title: An act relating to fiscal matters.

Brief Description: Making 2005-07 operating appropriations.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Prentice and Zarelli; by request of Governor Gregoire).

Brief History:

Appropriations: 4/6/05, 4/7/05 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 17 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Cody, Conway, Darneille, Dunshee, Grant, Haigh, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, McDermott, McIntire, Miloscia and Schual-Berke.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; McDonald, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Buri, Clements, Hinkle, Pearson, Priest, Talcott and Walsh.

Staff: Charlie Gavigan (786-7340).

Background:

The state government operates on the basis of a fiscal biennium that begins on July 1 of each odd-numbered year. Appropriations are made in the biennial budget for the operation of state government and its various agencies and institutions.

Summary of Amended Bill:

Total general fund appropriations for the 2005-07 biennium are $25.97 billion. Total appropriations, including the State General Fund, are $42.68 billion.

For additional information, see the Statewide Summary and Agency Detail published by the House Appropriations Committee.

Appropriation: Please refer to the bill.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Dennis Eagle, Washington Federation of State Employees; Jeff Gombosky, Eastern Washington University, Council of Presidents; Nicholas Cizek, WWU; Carl See, UW; Earl Hale, SBCTC; Gail Stygall, Council of Faculty Representatives; Randy Hogkins, UW Council of Presidents; Cheryl Green PT 2020; Jennifer Priddy, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; George Scarola, League of Education Voters; Rainier Houser, Association of Washington School Principals; Ken Kanikeberg, Public School Employees; Christie Perkins, Washington State Special Education Coalition; Sue Elliott, ARC; Maureen Fitzgerald, Washington Association of Childrens Advocacy Centers; Bonnie Jacques, Children's Advocacy Center; Seth Dawson, NAMI; Karla Grave Pratt, Washington Academy of Family Physicians; Hyeok Kim, Childrens Alliance; Shawn Andrews, Washington Academy of Family Physicians; Robert Wardell, Passport People First; Len McComb, Washington State Hospital Association; Gregg VanDeKieft, Washington Academy of Family Physicians; Laurie Lippold, Childrens Home Society; Dennis Mahar, Association of Area Agencies on Aging; Donna Patrick, DD Council; and Susie Tracey, Washington State Medical Association.

(Supports with Amendments) Randy Ray, Ross Products.

(With Concerns) Leslie Main, Washington State School Retirees Association; Cassandra de la Rosa, Retired Public Employees Council of Washington; John Kvamme, Washington State School Administrators and Association of Washington School Principals; Mo McBroom, Washington PRIG; Greg Scheiderer, Independent Colleges of Washington; Charlie Brown, Washington Oil Marketers Association and Washington Asparagus Council; Ramsey Radwan, Administrative Office of the Courts; Nick Federici, Washington Toxics Coalition; Tom McBride, Association of Washington Business; Eric Johnson, Washington Public Ports Association; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Collaborative; Dan Fazio, Washington State Farm Bureau; Dawn Larsen, Catholic Community Services; Donna Christensen, Catholic Conference and YMCAs of Washington; Sarilda Rousseau, People First; Tony Lee, Fremont Public Association; Ann Christian, Washington Community Mental Health Council; Sharon Case, Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers; George Hartwell; Paul Benz, Lutheran Public Policy Office; Gail Gosney, Thurston Community Network; Randi Abrams, SEIU Washington State Council; Lynn Maier, Washington Public Employees Association; Greg Parker, Washington Public Employees Association; Pat Thompson, Washington State Council of County and City Employees; Sandra Schroeder, AFT Washington; Charles Hasse, Washington Education Association; Mitch Denning, Alliance of Education Association; Bruce Wishart, People for Puget Sound; Jerry Reilley, Elder Care Alliance; Ruth Windhover, WEA Higher Ed; Bill Day, Adult Family Homes of Washington; Richard Moore, Adult Family Homes of Washington; David Lord, Washington Protection Advocacy System; Sylvia Fuerstenberg, Community Residential Services Association; Jean Wessman, Washington State Association of Counties; Carey Morris, Prosperity Alcohol and Drug Treatment provider; Jackie Derr, UW Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center; Nick Federici, American Lung Association and National Association of Social Workers; and Rick Slunaker, Associated General Contractors; John Burbank, Economic Opportunity Institute; Martin Best, Best Memories Learning Center; Mary Fischer, Institute for Family Development; and Robbin Dunn, Washington State Association of Headstart and ECEAP.

(Opposed) Mindy Leasure, Diane Formoso, and Diana McNee, Readiness to Learn; Elizabeth Fausto, Puget Sound ESD; Ruth Dickey, RTL; Greg Hanon, Western States Petroleum Association; Bill Daley, Washington Citizen Action; Diane Gaile; Jonathan Eams, Washington Health Care Association and Washington Center for Assisted Living; Deb Murphy, Washington Association of Housing Services for the Aging; Tina Nebroski, People First; Annie Cubberly, Child Care Action Council; Trish McNabb, Community Network Coalition; Dedi Hitchens, Washington State Pharmacy Association; Holly Chisa, Safeway and Albertsons; Paul Locke; and Cindy Goodwin, Readiness to Learn.