SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5729

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 Senate, March 6, 2017

Title: An act relating to legislative technology.

Brief Description: Concerning making nonsubstantive changes to statutes affecting legislative technology administration.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Senators Liias, Miloscia and Kuderer; by request of Joint Legislative Systems Committee).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: State Government: 2/15/17, 2/17/17 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate: 3/06/17, 49-0.

Brief Summary of Engrossed First Substitute Bill

  • Renames the committees that oversee legislative technology.

  • Changes the Legislative Service Center to the Office of Legislative Technology Solutions.

  • Changes the committee coordinator to legislative technology director.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5729 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Miloscia, Chair; Zeiger, Vice Chair; Hunt, Ranking Minority Member; Kuderer and Pearson.

Staff: Melissa Van Gorkom (786-7491)

Background: In 1986, the Joint Legislative Systems Committee (JLSC) was created to oversee the direction of the information processing and communications systems of the Legislature. JLSC consists of four legislative members, one from each of the two largest caucuses in each chamber of the Legislature. JLSC is advised by an administrative committee, the Joint Legislative Systems Administrative Committee (JLSAC), consisting of five members: two from Senate administration, two from House administration, and one from the Office of the Code Reviser.

Among other duties, JLSAC is responsible for adopting policies and standards regarding information processing and communications systems of the Legislature.

JLSC employs the Legislative Systems Coordinator, who is the executive head of the Legislative Service Center (LSC). LSC provides data processing services, equipment, training, and support to the Legislature.

Among other duties, the coordinator must enter into contracts for the sale or acquisition of equipment, supplies, services, and facilities, and for the distribution of legislative information.

Summary of Engrossed First Substitute Bill: The committees that oversee legislative technology are renamed:

  1. Joint Legislative Systems Committee is changed to the Joint Legislative Technology Committee (Technology Committee).

  2. Joint Legislative Systems Administrative Committee is changed to Joint Legislative Technology Administrative Committee (Administrative Committee).

The Technology Committee must employ a legislative technology director, rather than committee coordinator.

The Administrative Committee must establish the Office of Legislative Technology Solutions, rather than a Legislative Service Center.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: The Joint Legislative Systems Committee decided that the name does not align with the mission anymore. This bill renames these entities to reflect the mission and the critical component technology plays in support of the legislative mission and highlights the great work that technology professionals provide in support of the Legislature.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Marko Liias, Prime Sponsor; Mike Rohrbach, Director/Legislative Service Center (LEG-TECH).

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.