SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5751

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:

Ways & Means, February 28, 2013

Title: An act relating to requiring an inventory of state fees.

Brief Description: Requiring an inventory of state fees.

Sponsors: Senators Schoesler, Rivers, Smith, Braun, Baumgartner, Hasegawa, Parlette, Hewitt, Brown and Holmquist Newbry.

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 2/20/13, 2/28/13 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Hill, Chair; Baumgartner, Vice Chair; Honeyford, Capital Budget Chair; Hargrove, Ranking Member; Bailey, Becker, Braun, Conway, Dammeier, Hasegawa, Hatfield, Hewitt, Keiser, Padden, Parlette, Ranker, Rivers, Schoesler and Tom.

Staff: Steve Jones (786-7440)

Background: Agencies of state government may charge user fees or regulatory fees to recover all or part of the cost of a service, benefit, or regulatory program. The amount of the fee may be set in statute or determined by the agency pursuant to an administrative delegation of authority from the Legislature.

Summary of Bill: Every state agency and state institution of higher education must report to the Office of Financial Management (OFM) an inventory of all fees charged by the agency or institution. The inventory must include the purpose of the fee, the amount of the fee, the statutory authority for the fee, and the amount of the fee over the previous five years. The agency must update the information at least once every two years.

OFM must compile a statewide inventory of all of the fee information submitted by state agencies and institutions. The inventory must be made available to the public on the website of state expenditure information maintained by the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program (LEAP).

OFM must convene a workgroup to develop a process to increase the frequency and public accessibility of the fee inventory. The workgroup will include representatives from LEAP, the Office of Regulatory Assistance, and the departments of Licensing, Labor and Industries, Transportation, and Health.

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: OFM supports this legislation. This proposal will increase the accessibility of this information. As the process improves, OFM hopes to institute continual updates to this data.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Julie Murray, OFM.