BILL REQ. #: S-4544.1
State of Washington | 61st Legislature | 2010 Regular Session |
Read first time 02/05/10. Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
AN ACT Relating to consolidating forecast functions; amending RCW 9.94A.480, 9.94A.850, 10.98.140, 41.06.087, 41.45.030, 41.45.120, 43.88.020, 43.88.030, 43.88.120, 46.01.325, 50.38.050, 70.94.431, 70.94.483, 70.94.6528, 74.09.470, 82.33.010, 82.33.020, 82.33.040, 82.33.050, 90.90.070, and 74.09.470; adding new sections to chapter 82.33 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 9.94A.855, 9.94A.863, 43.88C.010, 43.88C.020, and 43.88C.030; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The legislature finds that accurate
forecasts of revenues and caseloads are essential to developing state
budgets. The legislature further finds that, over time, the
responsibilities for these forecasting and data analyses functions have
been dispersed among several agencies. Therefore, the legislature
concludes that these functions should be consolidated into a single
forecasting agency to create efficiencies, simplify forecasting,
simplify analysis, and enhance collaboration.
Sec. 2 RCW 9.94A.480 and 2002 c 290 s 16 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) A current, newly created or reworked judgment and sentence
document for each felony sentencing shall record any and all
recommended sentencing agreements or plea agreements and the sentences
for any and all felony crimes kept as public records under RCW
9.94A.475 shall contain the clearly printed name and legal signature of
the sentencing judge. The judgment and sentence document as defined in
this section shall also provide additional space for the sentencing
judge's reasons for going either above or below the presumptive
sentence range for any and all felony crimes covered as public records
under RCW 9.94A.475. Both the sentencing judge and the prosecuting
attorney's office shall each retain or receive a completed copy of each
sentencing document as defined in this section for their own records.
(2) The ((sentencing guidelines commission)) forecast council shall
be sent a completed copy of the judgment and sentence document upon
conviction for each felony sentencing under subsection (1) of this
section and shall compile a yearly and cumulative judicial record of
each sentencing judge in regards to his or her sentencing practices for
any and all felony crimes involving:
(a) Any violent offense as defined in this chapter;
(b) Any most serious offense as defined in this chapter;
(c) Any felony with any deadly weapon special verdict under RCW
((9.94A.602)) 9.94A.825;
(d) Any felony with any deadly weapon enhancements under RCW
9.94A.533 (3) or (4), or both; and/or
(e) The felony crimes of possession of a machine gun, possessing a
stolen firearm, drive-by shooting, theft of a firearm, unlawful
possession of a firearm in the first or second degree, and/or use of a
machine gun in a felony.
(3) The ((sentencing guidelines commission)) forecast council shall
compare each individual judge's sentencing practices to the standard or
presumptive sentence range for any and all felony crimes listed in
subsection (2) of this section for the appropriate offense level as
defined in RCW 9.94A.515 or 9.94A.518, offender score as defined in RCW
9.94A.525, and any applicable deadly weapon enhancements as defined in
RCW 9.94A.533 (3) or (4), or both. These comparative records shall be
retained and made available to the public for review in a current,
newly created or reworked official published document by the
((sentencing guidelines commission)) forecast council.
(4) Any and all felony sentences which are either above or below
the standard or presumptive sentence range in subsection (3) of this
section shall also mark whether the prosecuting attorney in the case
also recommended a similar sentence, if any, which was either above or
below the presumptive sentence range and shall also indicate if the
sentence was in conjunction with an approved alternative sentencing
option including a first-time offender waiver, sex offender sentencing
alternative, or other prescribed sentencing option.
(5) If any completed judgment and sentence document as defined in
subsection (1) of this section is not sent to the ((sentencing
guidelines commission)) forecast council as required in subsection (2)
of this section, the ((sentencing guidelines commission)) forecast
council shall have the authority and shall undertake reasonable and
necessary steps to assure that all past, current, and future sentencing
documents as defined in subsection (1) of this section are received by
the ((sentencing guidelines commission)) forecast council.
Sec. 3 RCW 9.94A.850 and 2009 c 375 s 8 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) A sentencing guidelines commission is established ((as an
agency of state government)) within the department of corrections.
(2) The ((legislature finds that the commission, having
accomplished its original statutory directive to implement this
chapter, and having expertise in sentencing practice and policies,))
sentencing guidelines commission shall:
(a) Evaluate state sentencing policy, to include whether the
sentencing ranges and standards are consistent with and further:
(i) The purposes of this chapter as defined in RCW 9.94A.010; and
(ii) The intent of the legislature to emphasize confinement for the
violent offender and alternatives to confinement for the nonviolent
offender.
The commission shall provide the governor and the legislature with
its evaluation and recommendations under this subsection not later than
December 1, 1996, and every two years thereafter;
(b) Recommend to the legislature revisions or modifications to the
standard sentence ranges, state sentencing policy, prosecuting
standards, and other standards. If implementation of the revisions or
modifications would result in exceeding the capacity of correctional
facilities, then the commission shall accompany its recommendation with
an additional list of standard sentence ranges which are consistent
with correction capacity;
(c) Study the existing criminal code and from time to time make
recommendations to the legislature for modification;
(d)(((i) Serve as a clearinghouse and information center for the
collection, preparation, analysis, and dissemination of information on
state and local adult and juvenile sentencing practices; (ii) develop
and maintain a computerized adult and juvenile sentencing information
system by individual superior court judge consisting of offender,
offense, history, and sentence information entered from judgment and
sentence forms for all adult felons; and (iii) conduct ongoing research
regarding adult and juvenile sentencing guidelines, use of total
confinement and alternatives to total confinement, plea bargaining, and
other matters relating to the improvement of the adult criminal justice
system and the juvenile justice system;)) Assume the powers and duties of the juvenile disposition
standards commission after June 30, 1996; and
(e)
(((f) Evaluate the effectiveness of existing disposition standards
and related statutes in implementing policies set forth in RCW
13.40.010 generally, specifically review the guidelines relating to the
confinement of minor and first-time offenders as well as the use of
diversion, and review the application of current and proposed juvenile
sentencing standards and guidelines for potential adverse impacts on
the sentencing outcomes of racial and ethnic minority youth;)) (e) Solicit the comments and suggestions of the juvenile
justice community concerning disposition standards, and make
recommendations to the legislature regarding revisions or modifications
of the standards. The evaluations shall be submitted to the
legislature on December 1 of each odd-numbered year. The department of
social and health services shall provide the commission with available
data concerning the implementation of the disposition standards and
related statutes and their effect on the performance of the
department's responsibilities relating to juvenile offenders, and with
recommendations for modification of the disposition standards. The
administrative office of the courts shall provide the commission with
available data on diversion, including the use of youth court programs,
and dispositions of juvenile offenders under chapter 13.40 RCW((
(g); and)).
(h) Not later than December 1, 1997, and at least every two years
thereafter, based on available information, report to the governor and
the legislature on:
(i) Racial disproportionality in juvenile and adult sentencing,
and, if available, the impact that diversions, such as youth courts,
have on racial disproportionality in juvenile prosecution,
adjudication, and sentencing;
(ii) The capacity of state and local juvenile and adult facilities
and resources; and
(iii) Recidivism information on adult and juvenile offenders
(3) Each of the commission's recommended standard sentence ranges
shall include one or more of the following: Total confinement, partial
confinement, community supervision, community restitution, and a fine.
(4) The standard sentence ranges of total and partial confinement
under this chapter, except as provided in RCW 9.94A.517, are subject to
the following limitations:
(a) If the maximum term in the range is one year or less, the
minimum term in the range shall be no less than one-third of the
maximum term in the range, except that if the maximum term in the range
is ninety days or less, the minimum term may be less than one-third of
the maximum;
(b) If the maximum term in the range is greater than one year, the
minimum term in the range shall be no less than seventy-five percent of
the maximum term in the range, except that for murder in the second
degree in seriousness level XIV under RCW 9.94A.510, the minimum term
in the range shall be no less than fifty percent of the maximum term in
the range; and
(c) The maximum term of confinement in a range may not exceed the
statutory maximum for the crime as provided in RCW 9A.20.021.
(5) The sentencing guidelines commission shall ((exercise its
duties under this section in conformity with chapter 34.05 RCW)) review
the monetary threshold amounts differentiating the various degrees of
property crimes in Washington state to determine whether such amounts
should be modified. The sentencing guidelines commission shall report
to the legislature with its recommendations by November 1, 2014, and
every five years thereafter.
Sec. 4 RCW 10.98.140 and 1987 c 462 s 4 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The section, the department, and the office of financial
management shall be the primary sources of information for criminal
justice forecasting. The information maintained by these agencies
shall be complete, accurate, and sufficiently timely to support state
criminal justice forecasting.
(2) The office of financial management shall be the official state
agency for the sentenced felon jail forecast. This forecast shall
provide at least a six-year projection and shall be published by
December 1 of every even-numbered year beginning with 1986. The office
of financial management shall seek advice regarding the assumptions in
the forecast from criminal justice agencies and associations.
(3) The ((sentencing guidelines commission)) forecast council shall
keep records on all sentencings above or below the standard range
defined by chapter 9.94A RCW. As a minimum, the records shall include
the name of the offender, the crimes for which the offender was
sentenced, the name and county of the sentencing judge, and the
deviation from the standard range. Such records shall be made
available to public officials upon request.
Sec. 5 RCW 41.06.087 and 1997 c 168 s 4 are each amended to read
as follows:
In addition to the exemptions set forth in RCW 41.06.070, this
chapter does not apply to the ((economic and revenue)) forecast
supervisor and staff employed under RCW 82.33.010 ((or the caseload
forecast supervisor and staff employed under RCW 43.88C.010)).
Sec. 6 RCW 41.45.030 and 2007 c 280 s 1 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) Beginning September 1, 2007, and every two years thereafter,
the state actuary shall submit to the council information regarding the
experience and financial condition of each state retirement system, and
make recommendations regarding the long-term economic assumptions set
forth in RCW 41.45.035. The council shall review this and such other
information as it may require.
(2) By October 31, 2007, and every two years thereafter, the
council, by affirmative vote of four councilmembers, may adopt changes
to the long-term economic assumptions established in RCW 41.45.035.
Any changes adopted by the council shall be subject to revision by the
legislature.
The council shall consult with the ((economic and revenue))
forecast supervisor and the executive director of the state investment
board, and shall consider long-term historical averages, in reviewing
possible changes to the economic assumptions.
(3) The assumptions and the asset value smoothing technique
established in RCW 41.45.035, as modified in the future by the council
or legislature, shall be used by the state actuary in conducting all
actuarial studies of the state retirement systems, including actuarial
fiscal notes under RCW 44.44.040. The assumptions shall also be used
for the administration of benefits under the retirement plans listed in
RCW 41.45.020, pursuant to timelines and conditions established by
department rules.
Sec. 7 RCW 41.45.120 and 1998 c 283 s 4 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) A pension funding work group is hereby created. The work group
shall consist of one staff member selected by the executive head or
chairperson of each of the following agencies or committees:
(a) Department of retirement systems;
(b) Office of financial management;
(c) State investment board;
(d) Ways and means committee of the senate;
(e) Appropriations committee of the house of representatives; and
(f) ((Economic and revenue)) Forecast council.
(2) The state actuary shall make available to the work group
information related to economic assumptions and contribution rates.
(3) The pension funding work group shall provide support to the
pension funding council. Meetings of the pension funding work group
may be called by any member of the group for the purpose of assisting
the pension funding council, reviewing actuarial valuations of the
state retirement systems, reviewing economic assumptions, or for any
other purpose which may assist the pension funding council.
(4) Recommendations from both affected employee and employer groups
will be actively sought during the work group process. The work group
shall conduct an open public meeting on these recommendations.
Sec. 8 RCW 43.88.020 and 2005 c 319 s 107 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) "Budget" means a proposed plan of expenditures for a given
period or purpose and the proposed means for financing these
expenditures.
(2) "Budget document" means a formal statement, either written or
provided on any electronic media or both, offered by the governor to
the legislature, as provided in RCW 43.88.030.
(3) "Director of financial management" means the official appointed
by the governor to serve at the governor's pleasure and to whom the
governor may delegate necessary authority to carry out the governor's
duties as provided in this chapter. The director of financial
management shall be head of the office of financial management which
shall be in the office of the governor.
(4) "Agency" means and includes every state office, officer, each
institution, whether educational, correctional, or other, and every
department, division, board, and commission, except as otherwise
provided in this chapter.
(5) "Public funds", for purposes of this chapter, means all moneys,
including cash, checks, bills, notes, drafts, stocks, and bonds,
whether held in trust, for operating purposes, or for capital purposes,
and collected or disbursed under law, whether or not such funds are
otherwise subject to legislative appropriation, including funds
maintained outside the state treasury.
(6) "Regulations" means the policies, standards, and requirements,
stated in writing, designed to carry out the purposes of this chapter,
as issued by the governor or the governor's designated agent, and which
shall have the force and effect of law.
(7) "Ensuing biennium" means the fiscal biennium beginning on July
1st of the same year in which a regular session of the legislature is
held during an odd-numbered year pursuant to Article II, section 12 of
the Constitution and which biennium next succeeds the current biennium.
(8) "Dedicated fund" means a fund in the state treasury, or a
separate account or fund in the general fund in the state treasury,
that by law is dedicated, appropriated, or set aside for a limited
object or purpose; but "dedicated fund" does not include a revolving
fund or a trust fund.
(9) "Revolving fund" means a fund in the state treasury,
established by law, from which is paid the cost of goods or services
furnished to or by a state agency, and which is replenished through
charges made for such goods or services or through transfers from other
accounts or funds.
(10) "Trust fund" means a fund in the state treasury in which
designated persons or classes of persons have a vested beneficial
interest or equitable ownership, or which was created or established by
a gift, grant, contribution, devise, or bequest that limits the use of
the fund to designated objects or purposes.
(11) "Administrative expenses" means expenditures for: (a)
Salaries, wages, and related costs of personnel and (b) operations and
maintenance including but not limited to costs of supplies, materials,
services, and equipment.
(12) "Fiscal year" means the year beginning July 1st and ending the
following June 30th.
(13) "Lapse" means the termination of authority to expend an
appropriation.
(14) "Legislative fiscal committees" means the joint legislative
audit and review committee, the legislative evaluation and
accountability program committee, and the ways and means and
transportation committees of the senate and house of representatives.
(15) "Fiscal period" means the period for which an appropriation is
made as specified within the act making the appropriation.
(16) "Primary budget driver" means the primary determinant of a
budget level, other than a price variable, which causes or is
associated with the major expenditure of an agency or budget unit
within an agency, such as a caseload, enrollment, workload, or
population statistic.
(17) "State tax revenue limit" means the limitation created by
chapter 43.135 RCW.
(18) "General state revenues" means the revenues defined by Article
VIII, section 1(c) of the state Constitution.
(19) "Annual growth rate in real personal income" means the
estimated percentage growth in personal income for the state during the
current fiscal year, expressed in constant value dollars, as published
by the office of financial management or its successor agency.
(20) "Estimated revenues" means estimates of revenue in the most
recent official economic and revenue forecast prepared under RCW
82.33.020, and prepared by the office of financial management for those
funds, accounts, and sources for which the office of the ((economic and
revenue)) forecast council does not prepare an official forecast, that
are prepared by the office of financial management in consultation with
the transportation revenue forecast council.
(21) "Estimated receipts" means the estimated receipt of cash in
the most recent official economic and revenue forecast prepared under
RCW 82.33.020, and prepared by the office of financial management for
those funds, accounts, and sources for which the office of the
((economic and revenue)) forecast council does not prepare an official
forecast.
(22) "State budgeting, accounting, and reporting system" means a
system that gathers, maintains, and communicates fiscal information.
The system links fiscal information beginning with development of
agency budget requests through adoption of legislative appropriations
to tracking actual receipts and expenditures against approved plans.
(23) "Allotment of appropriation" means the agency's statement of
proposed expenditures, the director of financial management's review of
that statement, and the placement of the approved statement into the
state budgeting, accounting, and reporting system.
(24) "Statement of proposed expenditures" means a plan prepared by
each agency that breaks each appropriation out into monthly detail
representing the best estimate of how the appropriation will be
expended.
(25) "Undesignated fund balance (or deficit)" means unreserved and
undesignated current assets or other resources available for
expenditure over and above any current liabilities which are expected
to be incurred by the close of the fiscal period.
(26) "Internal audit" means an independent appraisal activity
within an agency for the review of operations as a service to
management, including a systematic examination of accounting and fiscal
controls to assure that human and material resources are guarded
against waste, loss, or misuse; and that reliable data are gathered,
maintained, and fairly disclosed in a written report of the audit
findings.
(27) "Performance verification" means an analysis that (a) verifies
the accuracy of data used by state agencies in quantifying intended
results and measuring performance toward those results, and (b)
verifies whether or not the reported results were achieved.
(28) "Performance audit" has the same meaning as it is defined in
RCW 44.28.005.
Sec. 9 RCW 43.88.030 and 2006 c 334 s 43 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The director of financial management shall provide all agencies
with a complete set of instructions for submitting biennial budget
requests to the director at least three months before agency budget
documents are due into the office of financial management. The budget
document or documents shall consist of the governor's budget message
which shall be explanatory of the budget and shall contain an outline
of the proposed financial policies of the state for the ensuing fiscal
period, as well as an outline of the proposed six-year financial
policies where applicable, and shall describe in connection therewith
the important features of the budget. The biennial budget document or
documents shall also describe performance indicators that demonstrate
measurable progress towards priority results. The message shall set
forth the reasons for salient changes from the previous fiscal period
in expenditure and revenue items and shall explain any major changes in
financial policy. Attached to the budget message shall be such
supporting schedules, exhibits and other explanatory material in
respect to both current operations and capital improvements as the
governor shall deem to be useful to the legislature. The budget
document or documents shall set forth a proposal for expenditures in
the ensuing fiscal period, or six-year period where applicable, based
upon the estimated revenues and caseloads as approved by the ((economic
and revenue)) forecast council ((and caseload forecast council)) or
upon the estimated revenues and caseloads of the office of financial
management for those funds, accounts, sources, and programs for which
the forecast ((councils do)) council does not prepare an official
forecast. Revenues shall be estimated for such fiscal period from the
source and at the rates existing by law at the time of submission of
the budget document, including the supplemental budgets submitted in
the even-numbered years of a biennium. However, the estimated revenues
and caseloads for use in the governor's budget document may be adjusted
to reflect budgetary revenue transfers and revenue and caseload
estimates dependent upon budgetary assumptions of enrollments,
workloads, and caseloads. All adjustments to the approved estimated
revenues and caseloads must be set forth in the budget document. The
governor may additionally submit, as an appendix to each supplemental,
biennial, or six-year agency budget or to the budget document or
documents, a proposal for expenditures in the ensuing fiscal period
from revenue sources derived from proposed changes in existing
statutes.
The budget document or documents shall also contain:
(a) Revenues classified by fund and source for the immediately past
fiscal period, those received or anticipated for the current fiscal
period, and those anticipated for the ensuing biennium;
(b) The undesignated fund balance or deficit, by fund;
(c) Such additional information dealing with expenditures,
revenues, workload, performance, and personnel as the legislature may
direct by law or concurrent resolution;
(d) Such additional information dealing with revenues and
expenditures as the governor shall deem pertinent and useful to the
legislature;
(e) Tabulations showing expenditures classified by fund, function,
and agency;
(f) The expenditures that include nonbudgeted, nonappropriated
accounts outside the state treasury;
(g) Identification of all proposed direct expenditures to implement
the Puget Sound water quality plan under chapter 90.71 RCW, shown by
agency and in total; and
(h) Tabulations showing each postretirement adjustment by
retirement system established after fiscal year 1991, to include, but
not be limited to, estimated total payments made to the end of the
previous biennial period, estimated payments for the present biennium,
and estimated payments for the ensuing biennium.
(2) The budget document or documents shall include detailed
estimates of all anticipated revenues applicable to proposed operating
or capital expenditures and shall also include all proposed operating
or capital expenditures. The total of beginning undesignated fund
balance and estimated revenues less working capital and other reserves
shall equal or exceed the total of proposed applicable expenditures.
The budget document or documents shall further include:
(a) Interest, amortization and redemption charges on the state
debt;
(b) Payments of all reliefs, judgments, and claims;
(c) Other statutory expenditures;
(d) Expenditures incident to the operation for each agency;
(e) Revenues derived from agency operations;
(f) Expenditures and revenues shall be given in comparative form
showing those incurred or received for the immediately past fiscal
period and those anticipated for the current biennium and next ensuing
biennium;
(g) A showing and explanation of amounts of general fund and other
funds obligations for debt service and any transfers of moneys that
otherwise would have been available for appropriation;
(h) Common school expenditures on a fiscal-year basis;
(i) A showing, by agency, of the value and purpose of financing
contracts for the lease/purchase or acquisition of personal or real
property for the current and ensuing fiscal periods; and
(j) A showing and explanation of anticipated amounts of general
fund and other funds required to amortize the unfunded actuarial
accrued liability of the retirement system specified under chapter
41.45 RCW, and the contributions to meet such amortization, stated in
total dollars and as a level percentage of total compensation.
(3) The governor's operating budget document or documents shall
reflect the statewide priorities as required by RCW 43.88.090.
(4) The governor's operating budget document or documents shall
identify activities that are not addressing the statewide priorities.
(5) A separate capital budget document or schedule shall be
submitted that will contain the following:
(a) A statement setting forth a long-range facilities plan for the
state that identifies and includes the highest priority needs within
affordable spending levels;
(b) A capital program consisting of proposed capital projects for
the next biennium and the two biennia succeeding the next biennium
consistent with the long-range facilities plan. Insomuch as is
practical, and recognizing emergent needs, the capital program shall
reflect the priorities, projects, and spending levels proposed in
previously submitted capital budget documents in order to provide a
reliable long-range planning tool for the legislature and state
agencies;
(c) A capital plan consisting of proposed capital spending for at
least four biennia succeeding the next biennium;
(d) A strategic plan for reducing backlogs of maintenance and
repair projects. The plan shall include a prioritized list of specific
facility deficiencies and capital projects to address the deficiencies
for each agency, cost estimates for each project, a schedule for
completing projects over a reasonable period of time, and
identification of normal maintenance activities to reduce future
backlogs;
(e) A statement of the reason or purpose for a project;
(f) Verification that a project is consistent with the provisions
set forth in chapter 36.70A RCW;
(g) A statement about the proposed site, size, and estimated life
of the project, if applicable;
(h) Estimated total project cost;
(i) For major projects valued over five million dollars, estimated
costs for the following project components: Acquisition, consultant
services, construction, equipment, project management, and other costs
included as part of the project. Project component costs shall be
displayed in a standard format defined by the office of financial
management to allow comparisons between projects;
(j) Estimated total project cost for each phase of the project as
defined by the office of financial management;
(k) Estimated ensuing biennium costs;
(l) Estimated costs beyond the ensuing biennium;
(m) Estimated construction start and completion dates;
(n) Source and type of funds proposed;
(o) Estimated ongoing operating budget costs or savings resulting
from the project, including staffing and maintenance costs;
(p) For any capital appropriation requested for a state agency for
the acquisition of land or the capital improvement of land in which the
primary purpose of the acquisition or improvement is recreation or
wildlife habitat conservation, the capital budget document, or an
omnibus list of recreation and habitat acquisitions provided with the
governor's budget document, shall identify the projected costs of
operation and maintenance for at least the two biennia succeeding the
next biennium. Omnibus lists of habitat and recreation land
acquisitions shall include individual project cost estimates for
operation and maintenance as well as a total for all state projects
included in the list. The document shall identify the source of funds
from which the operation and maintenance costs are proposed to be
funded;
(q) Such other information bearing upon capital projects as the
governor deems to be useful;
(r) Standard terms, including a standard and uniform definition of
normal maintenance, for all capital projects;
(s) Such other information as the legislature may direct by law or
concurrent resolution.
For purposes of this subsection (5), the term "capital project"
shall be defined subsequent to the analysis, findings, and
recommendations of a joint committee comprised of representatives from
the house capital appropriations committee, senate ways and means
committee, legislative evaluation and accountability program committee,
and office of financial management.
(6) No change affecting the comparability of agency or program
information relating to expenditures, revenues, workload, performance
and personnel shall be made in the format of any budget document or
report presented to the legislature under this section or RCW
43.88.160(1) relative to the format of the budget document or report
which was presented to the previous regular session of the legislature
during an odd-numbered year without prior legislative concurrence.
Prior legislative concurrence shall consist of (a) a favorable majority
vote on the proposal by the standing committees on ways and means of
both houses if the legislature is in session or (b) a favorable
majority vote on the proposal by members of the legislative evaluation
and accountability program committee if the legislature is not in
session.
Sec. 10 RCW 43.88.120 and 2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 13 are each
amended to read as follows:
Each agency engaged in the collection of revenues shall prepare
estimated revenues and estimated receipts for the current and ensuing
biennium and shall submit the estimates to the director of financial
management and the director of revenue at times and in the form
specified by the directors, along with any other information which the
directors may request. For those agencies required to develop six-year
programs and financial plans ((under RCW 44.40.070)), six-year revenue
estimates shall be submitted to the director of financial management
and the transportation committees of the senate and the house of
representatives unless the responsibility for reporting these revenue
estimates is assumed elsewhere.
A copy of such revenue estimates shall be simultaneously submitted
to the economic and revenue forecast work group when required by the
office of the ((economic and revenue)) forecast council.
Sec. 11 RCW 46.01.325 and 2005 c 319 s 116 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The director shall prepare, with the advice of the title and
registration advisory committee, an annual comprehensive analysis and
evaluation of agent and subagent fees. The director shall make
recommendations for agent and subagent fee revisions approved by the
title and registration advisory committee to the senate and house
transportation committees by January 1st of every third year starting
with 1996. Fee revision recommendations may be made more frequently
when justified by the annual analysis and evaluation, and requested by
the title and registration advisory committee.
(2) The annual comprehensive analysis and evaluation must consider,
but is not limited to:
(a) Unique and significant financial, legislative, or other
relevant developments that may impact fees;
(b) Current funding for ongoing operating and maintenance
automation project costs affecting revenue collection and service
delivery;
(c) Future system requirements including an appropriate sharing of
costs between the department, agents, and subagents;
(d) Beneficial mix of customer service delivery options based on a
fee structure commensurate with quality performance standards;
(e) Appropriate indices projecting state and national growth in
business and economic conditions prepared by the United States
department of commerce, the department of revenue, and the ((revenue))
forecast council for the state of Washington.
Sec. 12 RCW 50.38.050 and 2009 c 151 s 2 are each amended to read
as follows:
The department shall have the following duties:
(1) Oversight and management of a statewide comprehensive labor
market and occupational supply and demand information system, including
development of a five-year employment forecast for state and labor
market areas;
(2) Produce local labor market information packages for the state's
counties, including special studies and job impact analyses in support
of state and local employment, training, education, and job creation
programs, especially activities that prevent job loss, reduce
unemployment, and create jobs;
(3) Coordinate with the office of financial management and the
office of the forecast council to improve employment estimates by
enhancing data on corporate officers, improving business establishment
listings, expanding sample for employment estimates, and developing
business entry/
(4) In cooperation with the office of financial management, produce
long-term industry and occupational employment forecasts. These
forecasts shall be consistent with the official ((economic and
revenue)) forecast council biennial economic and revenue forecasts; and
(5) Analyze labor market and economic data, including the use of
input-output models, for the purpose of identifying industry clusters
and strategic industry clusters that meet the criteria identified by
the working group convened by the economic development commission and
the workforce training and education coordinating board under chapter
43.330 RCW.
Sec. 13 RCW 70.94.431 and 1995 c 403 s 630 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Except as provided in RCW 43.05.060 through 43.05.080 and
43.05.150, and in addition to or as an alternate to any other penalty
provided by law, any person who violates any of the provisions of
chapter 70.94 RCW, chapter 70.120 RCW, or any of the rules in force
under such chapters may incur a civil penalty in an amount not to
exceed ten thousand dollars per day for each violation. Each such
violation shall be a separate and distinct offense, and in case of a
continuing violation, each day's continuance shall be a separate and
distinct violation.
Any person who fails to take action as specified by an order issued
pursuant to this chapter shall be liable for a civil penalty of not
more than ten thousand dollars for each day of continued noncompliance.
(2) Penalties incurred but not paid shall accrue interest,
beginning on the ninety-first day following the date that the penalty
becomes due and payable, at the highest rate allowed by RCW 19.52.020
on the date that the penalty becomes due and payable. If violations or
penalties are appealed, interest shall not begin to accrue until the
thirty-first day following final resolution of the appeal.
The maximum penalty amounts established in this section may be
increased annually to account for inflation as determined by the state
office of the ((economic and revenue)) forecast council.
(3) Each act of commission or omission which procures, aids or
abets in the violation shall be considered a violation under the
provisions of this section and subject to the same penalty. The
penalties provided in this section shall be imposed pursuant to RCW
43.21B.300.
(4) All penalties recovered under this section by the department
shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the air pollution
control account established in RCW 70.94.015 or, if recovered by the
authority, shall be paid into the treasury of the authority and
credited to its funds. If a prior penalty for the same violation has
been paid to a local authority, the penalty imposed by the department
under subsection (1) of this section shall be reduced by the amount of
the payment.
(5) To secure the penalty incurred under this section, the state or
the authority shall have a lien on any vessel used or operated in
violation of this chapter which shall be enforced as provided in RCW
60.36.050.
(6) Public or private entities that are recipients or potential
recipients of department grants, whether for air quality related
activities or not, may have such grants rescinded or withheld by the
department for failure to comply with provisions of this chapter.
(7) In addition to other penalties provided by this chapter,
persons knowingly under-reporting emissions or other information used
to set fees, or persons required to pay emission or permit fees who are
more than ninety days late with such payments may be subject to a
penalty equal to three times the amount of the original fee owed.
(8) By January 1, 1992, the department shall develop rules for
excusing excess emissions from enforcement action if such excess
emissions are unavoidable. The rules shall specify the criteria and
procedures for the department and local air authorities to determine
whether a period of excess emissions is excusable in accordance with
the state implementation plan.
Sec. 14 RCW 70.94.483 and 2003 1st sp.s. c 25 s 932 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) The wood stove education and enforcement account is hereby
created in the state treasury. Money placed in the account shall
include all money received under subsection (2) of this section and any
other money appropriated by the legislature. Money in the account
shall be spent for the purposes of the wood stove education program
established under RCW 70.94.480 and for enforcement of the wood stove
program, and shall be subject to legislative appropriation. However,
during the 2003-05 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from
the wood stove education and enforcement account to the air pollution
control account such amounts as specified in the omnibus operating
budget bill.
(2) The department of ecology, with the advice of the advisory
committee, shall set a flat fee of thirty dollars, on the retail sale,
as defined in RCW 82.04.050, of each solid fuel burning device after
January 1, 1992. The fee shall be imposed upon the consumer and shall
not be subject to the retail sales tax provisions of chapters 82.08 and
82.12 RCW. The fee may be adjusted annually above thirty dollars to
account for inflation as determined by the state office of the
((economic and revenue)) forecast council. The fee shall be collected
by the department of revenue in conjunction with the retail sales tax
under chapter 82.08 RCW. If the seller fails to collect the fee herein
imposed or fails to remit the fee to the department of revenue in the
manner prescribed in chapter 82.08 RCW, the seller shall be personally
liable to the state for the amount of the fee. The collection
provisions of chapter 82.32 RCW shall apply. The department of revenue
shall deposit fees collected under this section in the wood stove
education and enforcement account.
Sec. 15 RCW 70.94.6528 and 2009 c 118 s 401 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Any person who proposes to set fires in the course of
agricultural activities shall obtain a permit from an air pollution
control authority, the department of ecology, or a local entity
delegated permitting authority under RCW 70.94.6530. General permit
criteria of statewide applicability shall be established by the
department, by rule, after consultation with the various air pollution
control authorities.
(a) Permits shall be issued under this section based on seasonal
operations or by individual operations, or both.
(b) Incidental agricultural burning consistent with provisions
established in RCW 70.94.6524 is allowed without applying for any
permit and without the payment of any fee.
(2) The department of ecology, local air authorities, or a local
entity with delegated permit authority shall:
(a) Condition all permits to insure that the public interest in
air, water, and land pollution and safety to life and property is fully
considered;
(b) Condition all burning permits to minimize air pollution insofar
as practical;
(c) Act upon, within seven days from the date an application is
filed under this section, an application for a permit to set fires in
the course of agricultural burning for controlling diseases, insects,
weed abatement, or development of physiological conditions conducive to
increased crop yield;
(d) Provide convenient methods for issuance and oversight of
agricultural burning permits; and
(e) Work, through agreement, with counties and cities to provide
convenient methods for granting permission for agricultural burning,
including telephone, facsimile transmission, issuance from local city
or county offices, or other methods.
(3) A local air authority administering the permit program under
subsection (2) of this section shall not limit the number of days of
allowable agricultural burning, but may consider the time of year,
meteorological conditions, and other criteria specified in rules
adopted by the department to implement subsection (2) of this section.
(4) In addition to following any other requirements established by
the department to protect air quality pursuant to other laws,
applicants for permits must show that the setting of fires as requested
is the most reasonable procedure to follow in safeguarding life or
property under all circumstances or is otherwise reasonably necessary
to successfully carry out the enterprise in which the applicant is
engaged, or both. Nothing in this section relieves the applicant from
obtaining permits, licenses, or other approvals required by any other
law.
(5) The department of ecology, the appropriate local air authority,
or a local entity with delegated permitting authority pursuant to RCW
70.94.6530 at the time the permit is issued shall assess and collect
permit fees for burning under this section. All fees collected shall
be deposited in the air pollution control account created in RCW
70.94.015, except for that portion of the fee necessary to cover local
costs of administering a permit issued under this section. Fees shall
be set by rule by the permitting agency at the level determined by the
task force created by subsection (6) of this section, but shall not
exceed two dollars and fifty cents per acre to be burned. After fees
are established by rule, any increases in such fees shall be limited to
annual inflation adjustments as determined by the state office of the
((economic and revenue)) forecast council.
(6) An agricultural burning practices and research task force shall
be established under the direction of the department. The task force
shall be composed of a representative from the department who shall
serve as chair; one representative of eastern Washington local air
authorities; three representatives of the agricultural community from
different agricultural pursuits; one representative of the department
of agriculture; two representatives from universities or colleges
knowledgeable in agricultural issues; one representative of the public
health or medical community; and one representative of the conservation
districts. The task force shall:
(a) Identify best management practices for reducing air contaminant
emissions from agricultural activities and provide such information to
the department and local air authorities;
(b) Determine the level of fees to be assessed by the permitting
agency pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, based upon the level
necessary to cover the costs of administering and enforcing the permit
programs, to provide funds for research into alternative methods to
reduce emissions from such burning, and to the extent possible be
consistent with fees charged for such burning permits in neighboring
states. The fee level shall provide, to the extent possible, for
lesser fees for permittees who use best management practices to
minimize air contaminant emissions;
(c) Identify research needs related to minimizing emissions from
agricultural burning and alternatives to such burning; and
(d) Make recommendations to the department on priorities for
spending funds provided through this chapter for research into
alternative methods to reduce emissions from agricultural burning.
(7) Conservation districts and the Washington State University
agricultural extension program in conjunction with the department shall
develop public education material for the agricultural community
identifying the health and environmental effects of agricultural
outdoor burning and providing technical assistance in alternatives to
agricultural outdoor burning.
(8)(a) Outdoor burning that is normal, necessary, and customary to
ongoing agricultural activities, that is consistent with agricultural
burning authorized under this section and RCW 70.94.6532, is allowed
within the urban growth area as described in RCW 70.94.6514 if the
burning is not conducted during air quality episodes, or where a
determination of impaired air quality has been made as provided in RCW
70.94.473, and the agricultural activities preceded the designation as
an urban growth area.
(b) Outdoor burning of cultivated orchard trees, whether or not
agricultural crops will be replanted on the land, shall be allowed as
an ongoing agricultural activity under this section if a local
horticultural pest and disease board formed under chapter 15.09 RCW, an
extension office agent with Washington State University that has
horticultural experience, or an entomologist employed by the department
of agriculture, has determined in writing that burning is an
appropriate method to prevent or control the spread of horticultural
pests or diseases.
Sec. 16 RCW 74.09.470 and 2009 c 463 s 2 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) Consistent with the goals established in RCW 74.09.402, through
the apple health for kids program authorized in this section, the
department shall provide affordable health care coverage to children
under the age of nineteen who reside in Washington state and whose
family income at the time of enrollment is not greater than two hundred
fifty percent of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size
and determined annually by the federal department of health and human
services, and effective January 1, 2009, and only to the extent that
funds are specifically appropriated therefor, to children whose family
income is not greater than three hundred percent of the federal poverty
level. In administering the program, the department shall take such
actions as may be necessary to ensure the receipt of federal financial
participation under the medical assistance program, as codified at
Title XIX of the federal social security act, the state children's
health insurance program, as codified at Title XXI of the federal
social security act, and any other federal funding sources that are now
available or may become available in the future. The department and
the ((caseload)) forecast council shall estimate the anticipated
caseload and costs of the program established in this section.
(2) The department shall accept applications for enrollment for
children's health care coverage; establish appropriate minimum-enrollment periods, as may be necessary; and determine eligibility
based on current family income. The department shall make eligibility
determinations within the time frames for establishing eligibility for
children on medical assistance, as defined by RCW 74.09.510. The
application and annual renewal processes shall be designed to minimize
administrative barriers for applicants and enrolled clients, and to
minimize gaps in eligibility for families who are eligible for
coverage. If a change in family income results in a change in the
source of funding for coverage, the department shall transfer the
family members to the appropriate source of funding and notify the
family with respect to any change in premium obligation, without a
break in eligibility. The department shall use the same eligibility
redetermination and appeals procedures as those provided for children
on medical assistance programs. The department shall modify its
eligibility renewal procedures to lower the percentage of children
failing to annually renew. The department shall manage its outreach,
application, and renewal procedures with the goals of: (a) Achieving
year by year improvements in enrollment, enrollment rates, renewals,
and renewal rates; (b) maximizing the use of existing program databases
to obtain information related to earned and unearned income for
purposes of eligibility determination and renewals, including, but not
limited to, the basic food program, the child care subsidy program,
federal social security administration programs, and the employment
security department wage database; (c) streamlining renewal processes
to rely primarily upon data matches, online submissions, and telephone
interviews; and (d) implementing any other eligibility determination
and renewal processes to allow the state to receive an enhanced federal
matching rate and additional federal outreach funding available through
the federal children's health insurance program reauthorization act of
2009 by January 2010. The department shall advise the governor and the
legislature regarding the status of these efforts by September 30,
2009. The information provided should include the status of the
department's efforts, the anticipated impact of those efforts on
enrollment, and the costs associated with that enrollment.
(3) To ensure continuity of care and ease of understanding for
families and health care providers, and to maximize the efficiency of
the program, the amount, scope, and duration of health care services
provided to children under this section shall be the same as that
provided to children under medical assistance, as defined in RCW
74.09.520.
(4) The primary mechanism for purchasing health care coverage under
this section shall be through contracts with managed health care
systems as defined in RCW 74.09.522, subject to conditions,
limitations, and appropriations provided in the biennial appropriations
act. However, the department shall make every effort within available
resources to purchase health care coverage for uninsured children whose
families have access to dependent coverage through an employer-
sponsored health plan or another source when it is cost-effective for
the state to do so, and the purchase is consistent with requirements of
Title XIX and Title XXI of the federal social security act. To the
extent allowable under federal law, the department shall require
families to enroll in available employer-sponsored coverage, as a
condition of participating in the program established under this
section, when it is cost-effective for the state to do so. Families
who enroll in available employer-sponsored coverage under this section
shall be accounted for separately in the annual report required by RCW
74.09.053.
(5)(a) To reflect appropriate parental responsibility, the
department shall develop and implement a schedule of premiums for
children's health care coverage due to the department from families
with income greater than two hundred percent of the federal poverty
level. For families with income greater than two hundred fifty percent
of the federal poverty level, the premiums shall be established in
consultation with the senate majority and minority leaders and the
speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives. Premiums
shall be set at a reasonable level that does not pose a barrier to
enrollment. The amount of the premium shall be based upon family
income and shall not exceed the premium limitations in Title XXI of the
federal social security act. Premiums shall not be imposed on children
in households at or below two hundred percent of the federal poverty
level as articulated in RCW 74.09.055.
(b) Beginning no later than January 1, 2010, the department shall
offer families whose income is greater than three hundred percent of
the federal poverty level the opportunity to purchase health care
coverage for their children through the programs administered under
this section without an explicit premium subsidy from the state. The
design of the health benefit package offered to these children should
provide a benefit package substantially similar to that offered in the
apple health for kids program, and may differ with respect to cost-sharing, and other appropriate elements from that provided to children
under subsection (3) of this section including, but not limited to,
application of preexisting conditions, waiting periods, and other
design changes needed to offer affordable coverage. The amount paid by
the family shall be in an amount equal to the rate paid by the state to
the managed health care system for coverage of the child, including any
associated and administrative costs to the state of providing coverage
for the child. Any pooling of the program enrollees that results in
state fiscal impact must be identified and brought to the legislature
for consideration.
(6) The department shall undertake and continue a proactive,
targeted outreach and education effort with the goal of enrolling
children in health coverage and improving the health literacy of youth
and parents. The department shall collaborate with the department of
health, local public health jurisdictions, the office of the
superintendent of public instruction, the department of early learning,
health educators, health care providers, health carriers, community-based organizations, and parents in the design and development of this
effort. The outreach and education effort shall include the following
components:
(a) Broad dissemination of information about the availability of
coverage, including media campaigns;
(b) Assistance with completing applications, and community-based
outreach efforts to help people apply for coverage. Community-based
outreach efforts should be targeted to the populations least likely to
be covered;
(c) Use of existing systems, such as enrollment information from
the free and reduced-price lunch program, the department of early
learning child care subsidy program, the department of health's women,
infants, and children program, and the early childhood education and
assistance program, to identify children who may be eligible but not
enrolled in coverage;
(d) Contracting with community-based organizations and government
entities to support community-based outreach efforts to help families
apply for coverage. These efforts should be targeted to the
populations least likely to be covered. The department shall provide
informational materials for use by government entities and community-based organizations in their outreach activities, and should identify
any available federal matching funds to support these efforts;
(e) Development and dissemination of materials to engage and inform
parents and families statewide on issues such as: The benefits of
health insurance coverage; the appropriate use of health services,
including primary care provided by health care practitioners licensed
under chapters 18.71, 18.57, 18.36A, and 18.79 RCW, and emergency
services; the value of a medical home, well-child services and
immunization, and other preventive health services with linkages to
department of health child profile efforts; identifying and managing
chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes; and the value of good
nutrition and physical activity;
(f) An evaluation of the outreach and education efforts, based upon
clear, cost-effective outcome measures that are included in contracts
with entities that undertake components of the outreach and education
effort;
(g) An implementation plan to develop online application capability
that is integrated with the department's automated client eligibility
system, and to develop data linkages with the office of the
superintendent of public instruction for free and reduced-price lunch
enrollment information and the department of early learning for child
care subsidy program enrollment information.
(7) The department shall take action to increase the number of
primary care physicians providing dental disease preventive services
including oral health screenings, risk assessment, family education,
the application of fluoride varnish, and referral to a dentist as
needed.
(8) The department shall monitor the rates of substitution between
private-sector health care coverage and the coverage provided under
this section and shall report to appropriate committees of the
legislature by December 2010.
Sec. 17 RCW 82.33.010 and 1990 c 229 s 1 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The ((economic and revenue)) forecast council is hereby
created. The council shall consist of ((two)) three individuals
appointed by the governor and four individuals, one of whom is
appointed by the chairperson of each of the two largest political
caucuses in the senate and house of representatives. The chair of the
council shall be selected from among the four caucus appointees. The
council may select such other officers as the members deem necessary.
(2) The council shall employ ((an economic and revenue)) a forecast
supervisor to supervise the preparation of all ((economic and revenue))
forecasts. As used in this chapter, "supervisor" means the ((economic
and revenue)) forecast supervisor. Approval by an affirmative vote of
at least ((five)) six members of the council is required for any
decisions regarding employment of the supervisor. Employment of the
supervisor shall terminate after each term of three years. At the end
of the first year of each three-year term the council shall consider
extension of the supervisor's term by one year. The council may fix
the compensation of the supervisor. The supervisor shall employ staff
sufficient to accomplish the purposes of this section.
(3) The ((economic and revenue)) forecast council shall oversee the
preparation of and approve, by an affirmative vote of at least ((four))
five members, the official, optimistic, and pessimistic state economic
and revenue forecasts and caseload forecasts prepared under RCW
82.33.020. If the council is unable to approve a forecast before a
date required in RCW 82.33.020, the supervisor shall submit the
forecast without approval and the forecast shall have the same effect
as if approved by the council.
(4) A councilmember who does not cast an affirmative vote for
approval of the official economic and revenue forecast may request, and
the supervisor shall provide, an alternative economic and revenue
forecast based on assumptions specified by the member.
(5) Members of the ((economic and revenue)) forecast council shall
serve without additional compensation but shall be reimbursed for
travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120 while attending
sessions of the council or on official business authorized by the
council. Nonlegislative members of the council shall be reimbursed for
travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
(6) "Caseload," as used in this chapter, means the number of
persons expected to meet entitlement requirements and require the
services of public assistance programs, state correctional
institutions, state correctional noninstitutional supervision, state
institutions for juvenile offenders, the common school system, long-term care, medical assistance, foster care, and adoption support.
(7) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions
provided in RCW 43.88.020 apply to this chapter.
Sec. 18 RCW 82.33.020 and 2005 c 319 s 137 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Four times each year the supervisor shall prepare, subject to
the approval of the ((economic and revenue)) forecast council under RCW
82.33.010:
(a) An official state economic and revenue forecast;
(b) An unofficial state economic and revenue forecast based on
optimistic economic and revenue projections; and
(c) An unofficial state economic and revenue forecast based on
pessimistic economic and revenue projections.
(2) In consultation with the caseload forecast work group
established under section 20 of this act, and subject to the approval
of the forecast council, the supervisor shall prepare:
(a) An official state caseload forecast; and
(b) Other caseload forecasts based on alternative assumptions as
the council may determine.
(3) The supervisor shall submit forecasts prepared under this
section, along with any unofficial forecasts provided under RCW
82.33.010, to the governor and the members of the committees on ways
and means and the chairs of the committees on transportation of the
senate and house of representatives, including one copy to the staff of
each of the committees((,)). Revenue and economic forecasts shall be
submitted on or before November 20th, February 20th in the even-numbered years, March 20th in the odd-numbered years, June 20th, and
September 20th. All revenue and economic forecasts shall include both
estimated receipts and estimated revenues in conformance with generally
accepted accounting principles as provided by RCW 43.88.037. The
supervisor shall submit caseload forecasts prepared under this section,
along with any unofficial forecasts as provided for under RCW
82.33.010, to the governor and the members of the legislative fiscal
committees, including one copy to the staff of each of the committees.
The forecasts shall be submitted at least three times each year and on
such dates as the council determines will facilitate the development of
budget proposals by the governor and the legislature.
(((3))) (4) All agencies of state government shall provide to the
supervisor immediate access to all information relating to ((economic
and revenue)) forecasts. Revenue collection information shall be
available to the supervisor the first business day following the
conclusion of each collection period.
(((4))) (5) The ((economic and revenue forecast)) supervisor and
staff shall ((co-locate and)) share information, data, and files with
the tax research section of the department of revenue but shall not
duplicate the duties and functions of one another.
(((5))) (6) As part of its forecasts under subsection (1) of this
section, the supervisor shall provide estimated revenue from tuition
fees as defined in RCW 28B.15.020.
(7) The administrator of the legislative evaluation and
accountability program committee may request, and the supervisor shall
provide, alternative caseload forecasts based on assumptions specified
by the administrator.
(8) The official state caseload forecast under this section shall
be the basis of the governor's budget document as provided in RCW
43.88.030 and utilized by the legislature in the development of the
omnibus biennial appropriations act.
Sec. 19 RCW 82.33.040 and 1986 c 158 s 23 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) To promote the free flow of information and to promote
legislative input in the preparation of forecasts, immediate access to
all information relating to economic and revenue forecasts shall be
available to the economic and revenue forecast work group, hereby
created. Revenue collection information shall be available to the
economic and revenue forecast work group the first business day
following the conclusion of each collection period. The economic and
revenue forecast work group shall consist of one staff member selected
by the executive head or chairperson of each of the following agencies
or committees:
(a) Department of revenue;
(b) Office of financial management;
(c) Legislative evaluation and accountability program committee;
(d) Ways and means committee of the senate; and
(e) Ways and means committee of the house of representatives.
(2) The economic and revenue forecast work group shall provide
technical support to the ((economic and revenue)) forecast council.
Meetings of the economic and revenue forecast work group may be called
by any member of the group for the purpose of assisting the ((economic
and revenue)) forecast council, reviewing the state economic and
revenue forecasts, or reviewing monthly revenue collection data or for
any other purpose which may assist the ((economic and revenue))
forecast council.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 20 A new section is added to chapter 82.33 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) To promote the free flow of information and to promote
legislative and executive input in the development of assumptions and
preparation of forecasts, immediate access to all information and
statistical models relating to caseload forecasts shall be available to
the caseload forecast work group, hereby created. Each state agency
affected by caseloads shall submit caseload reports and data to the
council as soon as the reports and data are available and shall provide
to the council and the supervisor such additional raw, program-level
data or information as may be necessary for discharge of their
respective duties.
(2) The caseload forecast work group shall consist of one staff
member selected by the executive head or chairperson of each of the
following agencies, programs, or committees:
(a) Office of financial management;
(b) Ways and means committee, or its successor, of the senate;
(c) Ways and means committee, or its successor, of the house of
representatives;
(d) Legislative evaluation and accountability program committee;
and
(e) Each state program for which the council forecasts the
caseload.
(3) The caseload forecast work group shall provide technical
support to the forecast council. Meetings of the caseload forecast
work group may be called by any member of the group for the purpose of
assisting the council, reviewing forecasts, or for any other purpose
that may assist the council.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 21 A new section is added to chapter 82.33 RCW
to read as follows:
The forecast council shall also conduct analysis of sentencing
practices and their impact on correctional caseloads. To that end, the
forecast council shall:
(1)(a) Serve as a clearinghouse and information center for the
collection, preparation, analysis, and dissemination of information on
state and local adult and juvenile sentencing practices; (b) develop
and maintain a computerized adult and juvenile sentencing information
system by individual superior court judge consisting of offender,
offense, history, and sentence information entered from judgment and
sentence forms for all adult felons; and (c) conduct ongoing research
regarding adult and juvenile sentencing guidelines, use of total
confinement and alternatives to total confinement, plea bargaining, and
other matters relating to the improvement of the adult criminal justice
system and the juvenile justice system;
(2) Not later than December 1, 2011, and at least every two years
thereafter, based on available information, report to the governor and
the legislature on:
(a) Racial disproportionality in juvenile and adult sentencing and,
if available, the impact that diversions, such as youth courts, have on
racial disproportionality in juvenile prosecution, adjudication, and
sentencing;
(b) The capacity of state and local juvenile and adult facilities
and resources; and
(c) Recidivism information on adult and juvenile offenders.
Sec. 22 RCW 82.33.050 and 2007 c 484 s 3 are each amended to read
as follows:
The state ((economic and revenue)) forecast council shall perform
the state employment growth forecast and general state revenue
estimates required by Article VII, section 12.
Sec. 23 RCW 90.90.070 and 2008 c 82 s 2 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The Columbia river water delivery account is created in the
state treasury. Moneys in the account may be spent only after
appropriation. The account consists of all moneys transferred or
appropriated to the account by law. The legislature may appropriate
moneys in the account:
(a) For distributions for purposes of RCW 90.90.060 as provided in
this section; and
(b) To the department of ecology for other purposes relating to
implementation of RCW 90.90.060 and 90.90.080.
(2) On July 1, 2008, and each July 1st thereafter for the duration
of the agreements described in RCW 90.90.060, the state treasurer shall
transfer moneys from the general fund into the Columbia river water
delivery account in the amounts described in subsection (3) of this
section.
(3) Subject to appropriations, on July 1, 2008, and each July 1st
thereafter, the state treasurer shall distribute moneys from the
Columbia river water delivery account as follows:
(a) To the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, on July
1, 2008, the sum of three million seven hundred seventy-five thousand
dollars; and on July 1, 2009, the sum of three million six hundred
twenty-five thousand dollars. Each July 1st thereafter for the
duration of the agreement, the treasurer shall distribute an amount
equal to the previous year's distribution adjusted for inflation. The
inflation adjustment shall be computed using the percentage change on
the implicit price deflator for personal consumption expenditures for
the United States for the previous calendar year, as compiled by the
bureau of economic analysis of the United States department of commerce
and reported in the most recent quarterly publication of the ((economic
and revenue)) forecast council or successor agency.
(b) To the Spokane Tribe of Indians, on July 1, 2008, the sum of
two million two hundred fifty thousand dollars. Each July 1st
thereafter for the duration of the agreement, the treasurer shall
distribute an amount equal to the previous year's distribution adjusted
for inflation. The inflation adjustment shall be computed using the
percentage change in the consumer price index for the Washington state
Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton consolidated metropolitan statistical area for
the previous calendar year as compiled by the bureau of labor
statistics, United States department of labor, and reported in the most
recent quarterly publication of the ((economic and revenue)) forecast
council or successor agency.
(4) The state treasurer may not distribute moneys from the Columbia
river water delivery account to a tribe pursuant to this section unless
the director of ecology has certified in writing to the state treasurer
and the legislature that the agreement with the tribes is still in
effect.
Sec. 24 RCW 74.09.470 and 2009 c 463 s 2 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) Consistent with the goals established in RCW 74.09.402, through
the apple health for kids program authorized in this section, the
department shall provide affordable health care coverage to children
under the age of nineteen who reside in Washington state and whose
family income at the time of enrollment is not greater than two hundred
fifty percent of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size
and determined annually by the federal department of health and human
services, and effective January 1, 2009, and only to the extent that
funds are specifically appropriated therefor, to children whose family
income is not greater than three hundred percent of the federal poverty
level. In administering the program, the department shall take such
actions as may be necessary to ensure the receipt of federal financial
participation under the medical assistance program, as codified at
Title XIX of the federal social security act, the state children's
health insurance program, as codified at Title XXI of the federal
social security act, and any other federal funding sources that are now
available or may become available in the future. The department and
the ((caseload)) forecast council shall estimate the anticipated
caseload and costs of the program established in this section.
(2) The department shall accept applications for enrollment for
children's health care coverage; establish appropriate minimum-enrollment periods, as may be necessary; and determine eligibility
based on current family income. The department shall make eligibility
determinations within the time frames for establishing eligibility for
children on medical assistance, as defined by RCW 74.09.510. The
application and annual renewal processes shall be designed to minimize
administrative barriers for applicants and enrolled clients, and to
minimize gaps in eligibility for families who are eligible for
coverage. If a change in family income results in a change in the
source of funding for coverage, the department shall transfer the
family members to the appropriate source of funding and notify the
family with respect to any change in premium obligation, without a
break in eligibility. The department shall use the same eligibility
redetermination and appeals procedures as those provided for children
on medical assistance programs. The department shall modify its
eligibility renewal procedures to lower the percentage of children
failing to annually renew. The department shall manage its outreach,
application, and renewal procedures with the goals of: (a) Achieving
year by year improvements in enrollment, enrollment rates, renewals,
and renewal rates; (b) maximizing the use of existing program databases
to obtain information related to earned and unearned income for
purposes of eligibility determination and renewals, including, but not
limited to, the basic food program, the child care subsidy program,
federal social security administration programs, and the employment
security department wage database; (c) streamlining renewal processes
to rely primarily upon data matches, online submissions, and telephone
interviews; and (d) implementing any other eligibility determination
and renewal processes to allow the state to receive an enhanced federal
matching rate and additional federal outreach funding available through
the federal children's health insurance program reauthorization act of
2009 by January 2010. The department shall advise the governor and the
legislature regarding the status of these efforts by September 30,
2009. The information provided should include the status of the
department's efforts, the anticipated impact of those efforts on
enrollment, and the costs associated with that enrollment.
(3) To ensure continuity of care and ease of understanding for
families and health care providers, and to maximize the efficiency of
the program, the amount, scope, and duration of health care services
provided to children under this section shall be the same as that
provided to children under medical assistance, as defined in RCW
74.09.520.
(4) The primary mechanism for purchasing health care coverage under
this section shall be through contracts with managed health care
systems as defined in RCW 74.09.522, subject to conditions,
limitations, and appropriations provided in the biennial appropriations
act. However, the department shall make every effort within available
resources to purchase health care coverage for uninsured children whose
families have access to dependent coverage through an employer-sponsored health plan or another source when it is cost-effective for
the state to do so, and the purchase is consistent with requirements of
Title XIX and Title XXI of the federal social security act. To the
extent allowable under federal law, the department shall require
families to enroll in available employer-sponsored coverage, as a
condition of participating in the program established under this
section, when it is cost-effective for the state to do so. Families
who enroll in available employer-sponsored coverage under this section
shall be accounted for separately in the annual report required by RCW
74.09.053.
(5)(a) To reflect appropriate parental responsibility, the
department shall develop and implement a schedule of premiums for
children's health care coverage due to the department from families
with income greater than two hundred percent of the federal poverty
level. For families with income greater than two hundred fifty percent
of the federal poverty level, the premiums shall be established in
consultation with the senate majority and minority leaders and the
speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives. Premiums
shall be set at a reasonable level that does not pose a barrier to
enrollment. The amount of the premium shall be based upon family
income and shall not exceed the premium limitations in Title XXI of the
federal social security act. Premiums shall not be imposed on children
in households at or below two hundred percent of the federal poverty
level as articulated in RCW 74.09.055.
(b) Beginning no later than January 1, 2010, the department shall
offer families whose income is greater than three hundred percent of
the federal poverty level the opportunity to purchase health care
coverage for their children through the programs administered under
this section without an explicit premium subsidy from the state. The
design of the health benefit package offered to these children should
provide a benefit package substantially similar to that offered in the
apple health for kids program, and may differ with respect to cost-sharing, and other appropriate elements from that provided to children
under subsection (3) of this section including, but not limited to,
application of preexisting conditions, waiting periods, and other
design changes needed to offer affordable coverage. The amount paid by
the family shall be in an amount equal to the rate paid by the state to
the managed health care system for coverage of the child, including any
associated and administrative costs to the state of providing coverage
for the child. Any pooling of the program enrollees that results in
state fiscal impact must be identified and brought to the legislature
for consideration.
(6) The department shall undertake and continue a proactive,
targeted outreach and education effort with the goal of enrolling
children in health coverage and improving the health literacy of youth
and parents. The department shall collaborate with the department of
health, local public health jurisdictions, the office of the
superintendent of public instruction, the department of early learning,
health educators, health care providers, health carriers, community-based organizations, and parents in the design and development of this
effort. The outreach and education effort shall include the following
components:
(a) Broad dissemination of information about the availability of
coverage, including media campaigns;
(b) Assistance with completing applications, and community-based
outreach efforts to help people apply for coverage. Community-based
outreach efforts should be targeted to the populations least likely to
be covered;
(c) Use of existing systems, such as enrollment information from
the free and reduced-price lunch program, the department of early
learning child care subsidy program, the department of health's women,
infants, and children program, and the early childhood education and
assistance program, to identify children who may be eligible but not
enrolled in coverage;
(d) Contracting with community-based organizations and government
entities to support community-based outreach efforts to help families
apply for coverage. These efforts should be targeted to the
populations least likely to be covered. The department shall provide
informational materials for use by government entities and community-based organizations in their outreach activities, and should identify
any available federal matching funds to support these efforts;
(e) Development and dissemination of materials to engage and inform
parents and families statewide on issues such as: The benefits of
health insurance coverage; the appropriate use of health services,
including primary care provided by health care practitioners licensed
under chapters 18.71, 18.57, 18.36A, and 18.79 RCW, and emergency
services; the value of a medical home, well-child services and
immunization, and other preventive health services with linkages to
department of health child profile efforts; identifying and managing
chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes; and the value of good
nutrition and physical activity;
(f) An evaluation of the outreach and education efforts, based upon
clear, cost-effective outcome measures that are included in contracts
with entities that undertake components of the outreach and education
effort;
(g) An implementation plan to develop online application capability
that is integrated with the department's automated client eligibility
system, and to develop data linkages with the office of the
superintendent of public instruction for free and reduced-price lunch
enrollment information and the department of early learning for child
care subsidy program enrollment information.
(7) The department shall take action to increase the number of
primary care physicians providing dental disease preventive services
including oral health screenings, risk assessment, family education,
the application of fluoride varnish, and referral to a dentist as
needed.
(8) The department shall monitor the rates of substitution between
private-sector health care coverage and the coverage provided under
this section and shall report to appropriate committees of the
legislature by December 2010.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 25 The following acts or parts of acts are
each repealed:
(1) RCW 9.94A.855 (Sentencing guidelines commission -- Research
staff -- Data, information, assistance -- Bylaws -- Salary of executive
officer) and 2005 c 282 s 20, 1999 c 143 s 10, 1982 c 192 s 3, & 1981
c 137 s 5;
(2) RCW 9.94A.863 (Monetary threshold amounts of property crimes--Review -- Report) and 2009 c 431 s 2;
(3) RCW 43.88C.010 (Caseload forecast council -- Caseload forecast
supervisor -- Oversight and approval of official caseload forecast--Alternative forecast -- Travel reimbursement -- Definitions) and 2000 c 90
s 1 & 1997 c 168 s 1;
(4) RCW 43.88C.020 (Preparation and submittal of caseload
forecasts--Cooperation of state agencies--Official state caseload
forecast) and 1997 c 168 s 2; and
(5) RCW 43.88C.030 (Caseload forecast work group -- Submittal of data
by state agencies -- Meetings) and 1997 c 168 s 3.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 26 If any provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other
persons or circumstances is not affected.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 27 This act takes effect July 1, 2010.