HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 1828

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 Passed House:

January 31, 2018

Title: An act relating to more efficient use of state facilities through aligning the functions of the department of enterprise services and the office of financial management, collecting additional space use data, and making technical corrections.

Brief Description: Concerning more efficient use of state facilities through aligning the functions of the department of enterprise services and the office of financial management, collecting additional space use data, and making technical corrections.

Sponsors: Representatives Irwin, Hudgins and Stanford; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

State Government, Elections & Information Technology: 2/8/17, 2/14/17 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/27/17, 96-0.

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 1/31/18, 94-0.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill

  • Requires the Office of Financial Management, instead of the Department of Enterprise Services, to conduct space utilization studies, establish standards for use of space by state agencies, and evaluate opportunities for colocation and consolidation of facilities.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, ELECTIONS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Hudgins, Chair; Dolan, Vice Chair; Koster, Ranking Minority Member; Volz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Gregerson, Irwin, Kraft and Pellicciotti.

Staff: Megan Palchak (786-7105).

Background:

The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) and the Office of Financial Management (OFM) are responsible for acquiring and managing real estate on behalf of the state.

The Director of the DES provides long-range planning services to identify and evaluate opportunities for colocation and consolidation of state facilities, conducts space utilization studies that include identification of such opportunities, and establishes standards for use of space by state agencies.

The Director of the DES also determines the location, size, and design of any state real estate or improvements thereon, in conformity with facility efficiency standards adopted by the Director and approved by the OFM unless an exemption is granted. Exemptions must be reported by the Director to the OFM and appropriate legislative committees annually.

The OFM maintains an inventory system to account for facilities owned or leased by the state. The inventory system includes various data, such as the location and size of each facility.

Summary of Engrossed Bill:

Several provisions related to real estate acquisition and management on behalf of the state are changed.

The Office of Financial Management (OFM), instead of the Director of the Department of Enterprise Services (DES), is required to conduct the space utilization studies, establish the standards for use of space by state agencies, and evaluate opportunities for colocation and consolidation state facilities in the same geographic area, with the input of state agencies, including the DES, and real estate trade organizations.

The Director of the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) is not required to adopt facility efficiency standards, grant exemptions from those standards, or report those exemptions to the OFM and legislative committees.

For the OFM's inventory system, state agencies are required to report data regarding use of space for office facilities.

The state Liquor Control Board liquor stores and warehouse are removed from statutes governing state properties.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This is an OFM-sponsored bill that will reduce confusion regarding roles and responsibilities.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Irwin, prime sponsor; and Amy McMahan, Office of Financial Management.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.