Brief Description: Reducing the environmental impact of cleaning state facilities.

Sponsors: Representatives Simpson, B. Sullivan and Chase.

Hearing Date: 2/24/05

Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7157).

Background:

The Department of General Administration (Department) coordinates state agencies' purchases and sales of goods and services. The Director of the Department must establish overall state policy for determining where and when an item in the state supply system should be stocked. In addition, the Director of GA must develop goals for state use of recycled or environmentally preferable products through specifications for products and services.

The Secretary of the Department of Health must periodically review personal health and sanitation conditions at state owned or contracted institutions and facilities. The Department of Ecology is established as the state agency with the authority to carry out an integrated and coordinated program of pollution control.

Summary of Bill:

All state agencies must purchase and use cleaning products having properties that minimize potential impacts to human health and the environment. The Department in consultation with the Department of Health and the Department of Ecology, must provide consultation and guidance to state agencies to:

1.   Select and purchase products and use practices that reduce or minimize the risks of harmful effects to employees, custodial workers, visitors, and other building occupants and to the environment;
2.   Promote adoption of cleaning practices that reduce or minimize these risks;
3.   Recognize state agencies that adopt and implement environmentally beneficial facility and workplace management policies and practices;
4.   Encourage contractors supplying goods and services to state agencies to use such products; and
5.   Encourage lessors and building managers who provide leased space to state agencies to select and use such products.

State agencies must purchase environmentally preferred products or document the reasons for selecting alternative products. Such products must conform to guidance for environmentally preferred purchasing of cleaning products developed by the Department. Each state agency must assign an individual within the agency who must assess current facility management practices and use of cleaning products, evaluate whether these products conform to the new requirements, identify and purchase conforming cleaning products, and document the reasons for selecting products that do not conform. State agencies must transition to approved cleaning products within six months in a manner that avoids waste of existing inventories, and allows for proper establishment of supplies and training.

Within one year, the Department and the chief executive of each state agency must prepare an assessment of the efforts undertaken to comply with the new requirements. This assessment must be made available to employees and the public, and must be reviewed and updated biennially.

Local governments and school districts are encouraged to review their purchasing and use of cleaning products and select those products having properties that minimize potential impacts to human health and the environment. The Department must offer any assistance as may be appropriate to assist local governments and school districts to achieve these goals.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill contains and emergency clause and takes effect immediately.