Brief Description: Providing the secretary of health with authority to administer grants.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Moeller, Hinkle, Cody, Morrell, Skinner, Campbell, Clibborn, Schual-Berke and Kenney; by request of Department of Health).

House Committee on Health Care
Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:

The purposes of the Department of Health (Department) include the preservation of public health, the monitoring of health care costs, the maintenance of minimal standards for quality in health care delivery, and the general oversight and planning for the state's activities as they relate to health. The Secretary of Health (Secretary) has the authority to:
   1.   appoint advisory committees;
   2.   undertake studies, research, and analysis;
   3.   delegate powers, duties, and functions to Department employees;
   4.   enter into contracts on behalf of the Department;
   5.   act for the state in the initiation of, or participation in, any intergovernmental program; and
   6.   solicit and accept gifts, grants, bequests, devises, or other funds from public and private sources.
            
The Office of Financial Management (OFM) has a policy of requiring open competition for all personal service contracts over $20,000 entered into by state agencies. The Department is involved with many contracts defined as personal service contracts over $20,000 that are subject to formal competition under the OFM guidelines.

Summary:

In addition to contracting authority, the Secretary is given the authority to enter into and distribute grants on behalf of the Department to carry out the purposes of the Department. The Department must report to the Legislature a summary of the grants distributed under this authority for each year of the first biennium that the Secretary has granting authority.

The Department is responsible for the efficient and accountable expenditure of public funds on health activities that further the mission of the agency via grants and contracts.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   97   0
Senate   46   0

Effective: July 24, 2005