HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5377

BYSenate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Wojahn, Kiskaddon, Stratton, Deccio and Johnson)

Creating a department of public health and environment.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Bristow, Brooks, Bumgarner, Cantwell, Lewis, Lux, Sprenkle and Vekich.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative D. Sommers.

House Staff:Bill Hagens (786-7133)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments by Committee on Ways and Means/Appropriations not as amended by Committee on Health Care.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Grant, Grimm, Hine, McMullen, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver and Sprenkle.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (2)

      Signed by Representatives Locke and Belcher.

House Staff:      David Knutson (786-7146)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS

APRIL 4, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The purpose of this bill is to establish the Department of Ecology and Environmental Health by consolidating all the current functions of the Department of Ecology (DOE) and certain public health functions of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

In its 1986 report to the legislature, the Joint Select Committee on Public Health included among its recommendations the establishment of a new agency that consolidates all present functions of the Department of Ecology and certain public health functions of the Department of Social and Health Services.  The focus of this recommendation was to eliminate duplication of effort between the two agencies in the area of environmental health and to place public health at a more visible level in state government.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  All existing functions of Department of Ecology (DOE) and the environmental health functions of Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) are consolidated into a new agency titled the Department of Ecology and Environmental Health.

The Office of Financial Management (OFM) is directed to develop a transition plan to assure that Department of Social and Health Services' administrative expenditures are reduced in an amount adequate to cover the increased cost of the new department.  The Office of Financial Management is directed to report to the legislature by December 1988 on the implementation of the transition plan.

All powers, duties, functions, contracts and other obligations of those units transferred will remain in full force and effect.

Funds budgeted for activities transferred are to be transferred by the Office of Financial Management.

Staff performing transferred functions are transferred with continuing civil service protections.  Existing collective bargaining units and agreements are to remain in effect until modified by normal processes.  The act is scheduled for sunset in 1998.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE:  The transfer of all personal health care programs is deleted.  Effective date is changed from 1987 to 1988.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS:  The environmental health services in the Department of Social and Health Services are transferred to the Department of Ecology to form the Department of Ecology and Environmental Health.  Personal health service programs, licensing and certification activities remain in the Department of Social and Health Services.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

Effective Date:The bill takes effect on July 1, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Health Care) Senator Wojahn, prime sponsor; Phillip Johnson, Department of Ecology; Mary Selecky, Northeast Tri-County Health; Charles George, Yakima Health District; John Thayer, Washington State Environmental Health Directors; Maryly Luther, M.D., Washington State Local Public Health; Gordon Kelly, Kittitas County Health Department; John Leveque, Alliance For Children, Youth and Families; Tom Milne, Southwest Washington Health District; Barry Bede, US Ecology, Inc.; Ken Fales, Washington State Public Health Association and Robert Ball, Washington Nurses Association.

(Ways & Means/ Appropriations)  Mary Selecky, Northeast Tri-County Health.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Health Care) Mr. Jule Sugarman, Secretary, Department of Social and Health Services.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Mr. Jule Sugarman, Secretary, Department of Social and Health Services.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Health Care) Improved coordination in the areas of public and environmental health will increase the quality of public health services and decrease duplication of services and administration.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  In favor or consolidating environmental health programs in the Department of Social and Health Services with the Department of Ecology.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Health Care) Certain human services do not belong with the Department of Ecology and should not be transferred.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Personal health services should remain in the Department of Social and Health Services.