Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

State Government, Elections & Information Technology Committee

HB 2625

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

Requires public works notices to be published in a general circulation newspaper and on the agency's website.
Requires the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) to collect certain data on work done for state agencies by apprentices.
Requires vehicles owned by the DES to be identified as owned by the DES as opposed to the "state motor pool."
Repeals the requirement that the DES provide certain information related to individual financial planning and early retirement to members of the state's retirement system.

Background:

Public Works Notices.

When the state or a municipality makes public notice of public works projects for the purpose of bidding, that state or municipality must publish the estimate of the public works project and description of the work at least once in a legal newspaper of general circulation that is published in or near as possible to the part of the county in which the work is to be done.

Apprentice Data.

In general, for public works projects with an estimated cost of $1 million or more, at least 15 percent of the labor hours must be performed by apprentices. The DES collects certain data on work done by apprentices from state agencies.

Identification of Motor Vehicles Owned by the Department of Enterprise Services.

The DES oversees a motor vehicle transportation service, commonly referred to as the "state motor pool" for state agencies' use. Vehicles owned by the state must be marked in the rear window with the name of the operating agency or the words "state motor pool."

Information Related to Financial Planning and Early Retirement.

The DES must prepare information encouraging individual financial planning for retirement and describing the consequences of early retirement. This information must be distributed to all members of the state's retirement system that are eligible to retire. Prior to retiring, members must sign a statement acknowledging their receipt and understanding of the information.

Summary of Bill:

Public Works Notices.

When the state or a municipality makes public notice of a public works project for the purpose of bidding, that state or municipality must publish the estimate and description of the work at least once in a legal newspaper of general circulation and also posted on the state or municipality's web site.

Apprentice Data.

The DES must provide information and assistance to agencies that must have a certain amount of public works projects done by apprentices. The DES will collect the necessary data on the apprentices on behalf of the agencies.

Identification of Motor Vehicles Owned by the Department of Enterprise Services.

References to the "state motor pool" are removed to clarify that the DES owns the vehicles that are part of the state's motor vehicle transportation service. Such vehicles must be marked in the rear window with the name of the operating agency or the DES.

Information Related to Financial Planning and Early Retirement.

The DES no longer is required to distribute information regarding individual financial planning and the consequences of early retirement to members of the state's retirement system.