SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6581

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Ways & Means, February 23, 2012

Title: An act relating to eliminating accounts and funds.

Brief Description: Eliminating accounts and funds.

Sponsors: Senator Murray; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 2/16/12, 2/23/12 [DPS, w/oRec].

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6581 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Murray, Chair; Kilmer, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Parlette, Ranking Minority Member Capital; Baumgartner, Brown, Conway, Fraser, Harper, Hatfield, Hewitt, Honeyford, Kastama, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Padden, Pflug, Pridemore, Regala, Schoesler and Tom.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senator Holmquist Newbry.

Staff: Steve Jones (786-7440)

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

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): The following accounts are eliminated:

• 1975 Community College Capital Construction;

• 211 Account;

• Agency Payroll Revolving Fund;

• Agency Vendor Payment Revolving Fund;

• Airport Impact Mitigation Account;

• Americans with Disabilities Special Revolving Fund;

• Automatic Fingerprint Information System Account;

• Capitol Historic District Construction Account;

• College Savings Program Account;

• Common School Reimbursable Construction Account;

• County Public Health Account;

• County Sales and Use Tax Equalization Account;

• Digital Government Revolving Account;

• Disability Accommodation Revolving Fund;

• Displaced Workers Account;

• Distressed County Assistance Account;

• Dungeness Crab Appeals Account;

• Environmental Excellence Account;

• Federal Interest Payment Fund;

• Film and Video Promotion Account;

• Forests and Fish Account;

• Green Industries Jobs Training Account;

• Health System Capacity Account;

• Hood Canal Aquatic Rehabilitation Account;

• Liquor Control Board Construction and Maintenance Account;

• Metals Mining Account;

• Mobile Home Park Purchase Account;

• Municipal Sales and Use Tax Equalization;

• Nisqually Earthquake Account;

• Organized Crime Prosecution Revolving Fund;

• Public Facilities Construction Loan and Grant Revolving Account;

• Reading Achievement Account;

• Real Estate Excise Tax Grant Account;

• Salary and Insurance Increase Revolving Account;

• Small Business Incubator Account;

• Special Account Retirement Contribution Increase Revolving Account;

• Special Grass Seed Burning Research Account;

• Special Technology Funding Revolving Account;

• State Facilities Renewal Account;

• Students With Dependents Grant Account;

• Sulfur Dioxide Abatement Account;

• Tobacco Securitization Trust Account;

• Washington International Exchange Scholarship Endowment Fund;

• Washington International Exchange Trust Fund;

• Washington Natural Science, Wildlife, and Environmental Education Partnership Account;

• Water Conservation Account; and

• Water Storage Projects And Water Systems Facilities Subaccount.

Various statutory references to these accounts are eliminated or modified. Any future revenues that previously had been deposited in the Special Grass Seed Burning Research Account, the Film and Video Promotion Account, the Displaced Workers Account, and the Metals Mining Account are redirected to the state General Fund.

Remaining monies in two capital accounts (the Capitol Historic District Construction Account and the State Facilities Renewal Account) are transferred to the State Building Construction Account. Remaining moneys in the Special Grass Seed Burning Research Account are appropriated to the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission. Remaining monies in the other accounts being eliminated are transferred to the state General Fund.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute): Five additional accounts are eliminated: The Digital Government Revolving Account, the Americans with Disabilities Special Revolving Fund, the Salary and Insurance Increase Revolving Account, the Special Account Retirement Contribution Increase Revolving Account, and the Special Technology Funding Revolving Account.

Remaining monies in two capital accounts (the Capitol Historic District Construction Account and the State Facilities Renewal Account) are transferred to the State Building Construction Account (instead of the General Fund). Remaining monies in the Special Grass Seed Burning Research Account are appropriated to the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission.

Appropriation: Yes.

Fiscal Note: Available on Companion Bill HB 2764.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2012.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: PRO: These funds and accounts are dormant and inactive, with small balances. The companion bill, SHB 2764, corrects some technical errors that are present in this bill.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Julie Murray, Office of Financial Management.