Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Appropriations Committee

HB 1972

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.

Brief Summary of Bill

Eliminates the Public Printing Revolving Account and transfers revenue and fund balance to the Enterprise Services Account.
Changes the Enterprise Services Account from a partially non-appropriated account to a fully non-appropriated account.
Changes the administering agency for the Personnel Service Fund from both the Office of Financial Management and Department of Enterprise Services to only the Office of Financial Management.

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 (OFM) to be inactive accounts.

The Personnel Service Fund is an internal service fund used to support the provision of various personnel-related services and programs. Examples of programs or services include statewide personnel administration as well as training and recruitment. The account is appropriated. By statute, only the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) are authorized to expend from the account.

The Enterprise Services Account is an internal service fund used to support the provision of various services and programs administered by the DES. Examples of programs and services include building and grounds, motor pool, facilities and surplus property. Expenditures from the account may be either appropriated or non-appropriated. By statute, only the DES is authorized to expend from the account.

The Public Printer Revolving Account is a non-appropriated account used to support the operations of the state's printing services under the DES and is funded by payments for services from client state agencies.

Governor Gregoire's, budget proposal shifts expenditure authority from the non-appropriated Public Printing Revolving Account to the non-appropriated Enterprise Services Account. This budget proposal also assumes that the Enterprise Services Account would become entirely non-appropriated. Taken together, these changes net to zero.

Summary of Bill:

The Public Printing Revolving Account is eliminated. Any residual balance of funds remaining in the Public Printing Revolving Account will be transferred to the Enterprise Services Account. Uses of the Enterprise Services Account are clarified and language referencing non-existent accounts is removed.

In addition to eliminating the Public Printer Revolving Account, accounts are restructured or modified to implement policy changes proposed in Governor Gregoire's budget:

The Personnel Service Fund may be used only by the OFM rather than by the OFM and the DES.
An appropriation is no longer required for any expenditure from the Enterprise Services Account.
The Enterprise Services Account may not be used for information technology activities.