HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6572

As Reported by House Committee On:

Ways & Means

Title: An act relating to eliminating accounts.

Brief Description: Eliminating certain accounts.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senator Tom; by request of Office of Financial Management).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Ways & Means: 3/18/10 [DP].

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 20 members: Representatives Linville, Chair; Sullivan, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dammeier, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Cody, Conway, Darneille, Haigh, Hinkle, Hunt, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Pettigrew, Priest, Ross, Schmick and Seaquist.

Staff: Kristen Fraser (786-7148).

Background:

In addition to the State General Fund, which may be expended for any lawful purpose, the state maintains several hundred funds and accounts that are dedicated to particular statutory purposes. These accounts generally fall into one of three categories: (1) accounts located in the state treasury, thereby subject to appropriation by the Legislature; (2) accounts held in the custody of the State Treasurer and typically not subject to legislative appropriation; and (3) accounts located in state agencies and institutions of higher education, known as local accounts. Some funds and accounts, due to lack of recent activity, have been deemed by the Office of Financial Management to be inactive accounts.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Summary of Bill:

The following inactive funds and accounts are abolished:

• City and County Advance Right-of-Way Revolving Account;

• Community and Technical College Fund for Innovation and Quality Account;

• Dairy Products Commission Facility Account;

• Data Processing Building Construction Account;

• Education Technology Account;

• Energy Efficiency Construction Account;

• Fruit Commission Facility Account;

• K-20 Technology Account;

• Morrill Account;

• Personal Health Services Account;

• Prescription Drug Purchasing Account;

• Special Purpose District Research Services Account;

• Two-Year Student Child Care in Higher Education Account;

• Warren G. Magnuson Institute Trust Account;

• Washington Fruit Express Account; and

• Washington Service Corps Scholarship Account.

Any residual balance remaining in these funds is transferred to the General Fund-State. In addition, the remaining balances in the School Construction Revolving Fund, created in 1990 by an uncodified section of the state budget act, and the Employment and Training Act, which was repealed in 1993, are also transferred to the General Fund-State.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available on the original bill.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This is a housekeeping measure. It will reduce the administrative burden of accounting for these defunct funds and accounts.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Julie Murray, Office of Financial Management.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.