Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee |
HB 2617
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Eliminating certain boards and commissions.
Sponsors: Representatives Driscoll, Chase, Hunt, Wallace, Williams, Maxwell, White, Kelley, Carlyle, Simpson, Seaquist and Moeller; by request of Governor Gregoire.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/21/10
Staff: Pam Madson (786-7111).
Background:
In 1977 the Legislature directed the Office of Financial Management (OFM) to compile and revise, within 90 days after the beginning of each biennium, a list of all permanent and temporary, statutory and non-statutory boards, commissions, councils, committees, and other groups established by the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of state government and whose members are eligible to receive travel expenses for their meetings. For each board and commission, the OFM list must provide information about the legal authorization for creation of the group; the number of members and the appointing authority; the number of meetings in the previous biennium; a summary of the group’s primary responsibilities; and the source of funding for the group.
In 1994 the Legislature established new oversight roles for the Governor and the OFM. For existing boards and commissions, the Governor must review and submit to the Legislature every odd-numbered year a report recommending which boards and commissions should be terminated or consolidated. In making a recommendation, the Governor must consider the following:
whether the entity completed its work and is no longer of critical significance to effective state government;
whether the work of the group directly affects public safety, welfare, or health;
whether the work can be done by another state agency;
what impact termination will have on costs;
whether the work can be done by a non-public entity;
whether termination will result in significant loss of expertise to state government;
whether termination will result in operational efficiencies other than fiscal; and
whether the work can be done by an ad hoc committee.
In 2009 the Legislature eliminated 18 statutory boards, commissions, councils, and committees, and the Governor eliminated a number of non-statutory entities by executive order.
Summary of Bill:
Seventy-eight statutory boards, commissions, committees, or councils are eliminated. Where appropriate, duties are transferred to the agency that the board, commission, committee, or council advises. (Please see accompanying chart listing those entities to be eliminated.)
All tangible property in the possession of a terminated entity is transferred to the custody of the entity assuming the responsibilities. If the responsibilities of a terminated entity are also terminated, documents and papers shall be delivered to the State Archivist, and equipment or other tangible property to the Department of General Administration. Any contractual rights and duties of the eliminated board, committee, or council are assigned to the entity assuming the responsibilities.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect June 30, 2010, except for the following:
sections 42 and 43 relating to the Children's Services Advisory Committee, which takes effect October 1, 2010;
sections 116 through 125 relating to Home Inspector Licensing Advisory Board, which takes effect June 30, 2013;
section 251 relating to the Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission, which takes effect June 30, 2011; and
section 261 relating to the Western States School Bus Safety Commission, which takes effect June 30, 2011.