SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1425
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Higher Education & Workforce Development, March 18, 2011
Title: An act relating to health sciences and services authorities.
Brief Description: Concerning the higher education coordinating board's responsibilities with regard to health sciences and services authorities.
Sponsors: Representative Haler; by request of Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/25/11, 98-0.
Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 3/11/11, 3/18/11 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Tom, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Hill, Ranking Minority Member; Becker, Ericksen, Kastama, Kilmer and White.
Staff: Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)
Background: The Washington Legislature, in 2007, authorized formation of a health sciences and service authority (HSSA) in Washington. An HSSA is a special purpose district designed to foster bioscience-based economic development and advance new therapies and procedures to combat disease and promote public health. The Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) approves or rejects applications for designation of HSSAs in Washington. There is currently one HSSA in Spokane County.
The HECB is responsible for the development and evaluation of performance measures to evaluate the effectiveness of an HSSA’s activities, and is required to report to the Legislature on HSSA activities on a biennial basis beginning December 1, 2009.
Summary of Bill: The HECB continues to develop evaluation criteria enabling the local government to measure the effectiveness of the program. The HECB reporting requirement is eliminated.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The HSSA will still be subject to state audits. The funding to fulfill the reporting requirement is not in the supplemental budget. The HECB has not had the expertise to conduct the evaluation in-house, so they have had to contract the work. This is an efficiency in government bill.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Chris Thompson, HECB.