HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 3175

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.

As Passed House:

February 18, 2010

Title: An act relating to transferring the office of minority and women's business enterprises into the department of commerce.

Brief Description: Transferring the office of minority and women's business enterprises into the department of commerce.

Sponsors: House Committee on General Government Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representative Darneille).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

General Government Appropriations: 2/4/10, 2/5/10 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/18/10, 92-0.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

  • Transfers the Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises and its functions to the Department of Commerce.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Darneille, Chair; Takko, Vice Chair; McCune, Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Dunshee, Hudgins, Kenney, Klippert, Pedersen, Sells, Short, Van De Wege and Williams.

Staff: Alex MacBain (786-7288).

Background:

The Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) was created in 1983 with the statutory purpose of providing minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) the maximum practicable opportunity for increased participation in public works contracts and public contracts for goods and services. Among other things, the OMWBE is required to:

The OMWBE is the sole authority for certifying minority, women-owned, and socially and economically disadvantaged businesses for participation in public contracting programs. Only small business concerns, as defined by the OMWBE, may be certified.

Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill:

The OMWBE and its functions are transferred to the Department of Commerce (COM) to be an office within the COM. All materials held by the OMWBE related to its operation are transferred to the custody of the COM. Employees of the OMWBE are transferred to the COM without a loss of rights, and existing bargaining units of employees of the OMWBE are transferred in their entirety without becoming part of existing bargaining units at the COM.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 3, 2010.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2010.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

None.

Persons Testifying: None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.