HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESB 5995

As Passed House - Amended:

April 26, 2009

Title: An act relating to eliminating certain boards, committees, and commissions and the transfer of certain duties effective June 30, 2009.

Brief Description: Eliminating certain boards, committees, and commissions and the transfer of certain duties.

Sponsors: Senators Pridemore, Schoesler and Honeyford; by request of Governor Gregoire.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Ways & Means: 4/25/09 [DPA].

Floor Activity

Passed House - Amended: 4/26/09, 95-0.

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 22 members: Representatives Linville, Chair; Ericks, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dammeier, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Cody, Conway, Darneille, Haigh, Hinkle, Hunt, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Pettigrew, Priest, Ross, Schmick, Seaquist and Sullivan.

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135)

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 1987 the Legislature directed the OFM to prepare sunrise notes concerning the creation of new boards and commissions. The sunrise notes must include: purpose and expected impact; powers and duties; potential duplications; and other relevant information related to the need for the board or commission.

The Legislature revisited boards and commissions more generally in 1994, establishing 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.

Summary of Amended Bill:

The following boards are eliminated effective June 30, 2009:

Acupuncture Ad Hoc Committee;

Adult Family Home Advisory Committee;

Advisory Council on Adult Education;

Airport Impact Mitigation Advisory Board;

Boarding Home Advisory Board;

Citizens' Work Group on Health Care Reform;

Displaced Homemaker Program Statewide Advisory Committee;

Firearms Range Advisory Committee;

Foster Care Endowed Scholarship Advisory Board;

Higher Education Coordinating Board Work Study Advisory Committee;

Model Toxics Control Act Science Advisory Board;

Oil Heat Advisory Committee;

Organized Crime Advisory Board;

Oversight Committee on Character-Building Residential Services in Prisons;

Parks Centennial Advisory Committee;

Pesticide Advisory Board;

Pest Management Coordinating Committee;

Prescription Drug Purchasing Consortium Advisory Commission;

Radiologic Technologists Ad Hoc Committee;

Risk Management Advisory Committee;

Securities Advisory Committee;

Sexual Offender Treatment Providers Advisory Committee;

Special License Plate Review Board; and

Vendor Rates Advisory Committee.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on April 24, 2009.

Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect June 30, 2009.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill represents the Governor's reform efforts. The Governor has eliminated 56 boards and commissions by executive order. The Governor is asking agencies to secure public input through other means using the technological tools available. The fiscal note captures the direct costs, but it does not reflect the administrative reductions that agencies are taking.

(With concerns) The Enhanced 911 Advisory Committee was not in the Governor's original proposal and should be removed from the bill. The Auto Theft Prevention Authority was appropriated money in the budget and should be removed from the bill. Section 176 of the bill regarding the Recreation on State Trust Lands Work Group should be removed as the statute sunsets in December 2009. The Children's Advisory Committee is scheduled to sunset in 2010 and should be removed from the bill. The Horse Park Authority was appropriated funds in the capital budget.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Robin Arnold-Williams, Office of the Governor.

(With concerns) Jo Arlow, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs; Jim Halstrom, Washington State Horse Park Authority; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; Heath Packard, Department of Natural Resources; and Mike Ryherd, Association Public Safety Officers.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.