Title: An act relating to reducing the environmental health impact of cleaning in state facilities.

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

Sponsors: Representatives Simpson, Hudgins, Ormsby, Hunt, Wood, Campbell and Chase.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/14/08, 92-1.

Committee Activity: Water, Energy & Telecommunications: 2/22/08 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WATER, ENERGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Rockefeller, Chair; Murray, Vice Chair; Fraser, Hatfield, Oemig and Regala.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Holmquist and Morton.

Staff: Jan Odano (786-7486)

Background: The Department of General Administration (GA) coordinates state agencies' purchases and sales of goods and services. The Director of the GA 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 the GA must develop state goals for using recycled or environmentally preferable products.

The Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) must periodically review personal health and sanitation conditions at state-owned or contracted institutions and facilities. The Department of Ecology (DOE) is established as the state agency with the authority to carry out an integrated and coordinated program of pollution prevention and 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. GA, in consultation with the DOH and the DOE, must provide guidance to state agencies to:

• select and purchase products and use practices that reduce or minimize the risks of harmful human and environmental effects;
• promote adoption of cleaning practices that reduce or minimize these risks;
• recognize state agencies that adopt and implement environmentally beneficial facility and workplace management policies and practices; and
• encourage contractors supplying goods and services to state agencies to use such products.

GA must require lessors and building managers who provide leased space to state agencies to use environmentally preferred products and practices, upon renewal of a lease and for all new leases.

State agencies must purchase environmentally preferred products. Preferred products must conform to guidance for environmentally preferred purchasing of cleaning products developed by GA. State agencies must transition to preferred cleaning products within six months of the effective date of the bill in a manner that avoids waste of existing inventories, and allows for proper establishment of supplies and training.

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. GA must encourage local government and school districts to choose and use environmentally preferred cleaning products.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Engrossed Bill: PRO: This bill promotes the use of safer cleaning products that still get the job done. Green chemistry can be a catalyst that creates value by lowering costs, enhancing consumer demand and employee loyalty, increasing market share, and lessening environmental liability. It is a practical and implementable step forward in the state's effort to buy green. It supports a growing green chemistry industry nationally and locally and complements a growing green economy in Washington.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Darin Rice, DOE; Pattie Williams, GA; Bill Stauffacher, Consumer Specialty Products Association.