Background: Boards, commissions, councils, and advisory committees (boards) fill a variety of roles. For example, some are responsible for licensing various activities, while others advise state agencies in matters ranging from procedure to technology. Often boards are created as a requirement for a federal grant. Some boards receive staff support from an agency. Members of some boards receive travel compensation and reimbursement from an agency.

Boards can be created in four ways:

by general statute giving an agency authority to create a board for one or more purposes;
by specific statute naming the board as well as its purpose, powers, and duties;
by executive order of the Governor; or
by order of the Supreme Court.

On December 16, 2008, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) released the revised version of a report entitled "Review of Boards and Commissions: Pre-Audit." The JLARC report identified 470 boards and commissions currently operating, or not known to have been disbanded.

By January 8 of every odd-numbered year, the Governor must submit to the Legislature a report recommending which boards and commissions should be terminated or consolidated. The report must include executive request legislation implementing the recommendations of the report.

Summary of Bill: The following boards and commissions are eliminated:

Advisory Council on Adult Education;
Advisory Board of Plumbers;
Airport Impact Mitigation Advisory Board;
Athletic Training Advisory Committee;
Basic Health Advisory Committee;
Breast and Cervical Cancer Medical Advisory Committee;
Capital Campus Design Advisory Committee;
Chemical Dependency Certification Advisory Committee;
Children's Services Advisory Committee;
Board of Law Enforcement Training Standards and Board on Correctional Training Standards;
Early Intervention for Children who are Deaf or have Hearing Loss Advisory Committee;
Early Learning Advisory Council;
Eastern State Hospital Board and Western State Hospital Board;
Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Steering Committee;
Emergency Management Council;
Emergency Medical Services Licensing and Certification Advisory Committee;
Fairs Commission;
Family Practice Education Advisory Board;
Hazardous Substance Mixed Waste Advisory Board;
Health and Welfare Advisory Board and Property and Liability Advisory Board;
Health Information Infrastructure Advisory Board;
Higher Education Coordinating Board Advisory Council;
Industry Cluster Advisory Committee;
Integrated Justice Information Board;
Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers Advisory Committee;
Livestock Identification Advisory Board;
McNeil Island Secure Community Transition Facility Operational Advisory Board;
Midwifery Advisory Committee;
Naturopathic Advisory Council;
Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities Advisory Committee;
Olympic Natural Resources Center Policy Advisory Board;
On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems Advisory Committee;
On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems Alternative Systems Technical Review Committee;
Orthotic and Prosthetics Advisory Committee;
Oversight Committee on Character-Building Residential Services in Prisons;
Advisory Board on Missing and Exploited Children;
Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee;
Puget Sound Partnership – Ecosystems Coordination Board;
Real Estate Appraiser Commission;
Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group Advisory Board;
Revenue - Simplified Sales and Use Tax Administration Advisory Group;
State Solid Waste Advisory Committee;
Unemployment Insurance State Advisory Council;
Water Supply Advisory Committee;
Well Drilling Technical Advisory Group;
Women's History Consortium; and
Workforce Training Customer Advisory Committee.

The Committee on Agency Official's Salaries is eliminated, and the duties transferred to the Department of Personnel.

The Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB) and the Project Review Committee (PRC) are eliminated, and the duties transferred to the Department of General Administration.

The advisory committee to address racial disproportionality and disparity in Washington's child welfare system expires June 30, 2010.

The Combined Fund Drive Committee is eliminated, and the duties transferred to the Department of Personnel.

The Customer Advisory Board of the Department of Information Services is eliminated, and rate plan review will be conducted by the Office of Financial Management.

The Economic Development Commission is eliminated. The Community Economic Revitalization Board must submit evaluations to the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development. RCW 39.102.040, providing requirements for local governments prior to using local infrastructure financing, imposing an income tax, and competitive project awards expires on June 30, 2039.

The Fire Protection Policy Board is eliminated, and duties are transferred to the Director of Fire Protection and the Office of the State Fire Marshall.

The Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board is eliminated, and the duties transferred to the Department of Licensing.

The K-20 Educational Network Board and the K-20 Network Technical Steering Committee are eliminated. General operational and technical oversight of the K-20 Network is transferred to the Department of Information Services.

The Migratory Waterfowl Art Committee is eliminated, and the duties transferred to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The Organized Crime Advisory Board is eliminated, and the duties transferred to the Chief of the Washington State Patrol.

The Special License Plate Review Board is eliminated, and the duties transferred to the Department of Licensing.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill is a part of the Governor's government reform approach. There are multiple approaches moving forward during the session. The discussion has proven valuable and we look forward to finding consensus.

CON: Literally thousands of workers are impacted by the decisions of the Emergency Medical Services steering committee. The ambulance association understands the need to save money but we suggest you combine the steering committee with the licensing committee and then don't pay anyone for showing up. Without this committee there will be no way of conducting an organized discussion. The Children's Advisory Committee provides a degree of oversight to the Department of Social and Health Services and removing this group will take away a level of oversight. There is no need to provide meals, and teleconferencing should save money and avoid travel. The elimination of the CPARB is a bad idea. CPARB works and avoids conflicts between various parties. The PRC provides oversight. This bill shifts the requirements of the agencies so there really is no savings. If you move all functions to the executive branch, you lose all input from the legislative branch. Eliminating these boards will not save the state money. The Migratory Waterfowl Art Committee has actually earned money for the state so it does not make sense to eliminate this committee. If the object is to reduce spending, it would make sense to remove the waterfowl committee from the bill. The Association of Alcoholism & Addictions Program is supported by fees and there is no general fund impact. Eliminating this program will not save the state any money. This committee of experts needs to continue to advise the Department of Health. The Real Estate Appraisers are fund neutral so we request we not be eliminated.

OTHER: We marked other because we are not against the entire bill, just the portion that impacts specific committees.