SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5052

BYSenators Lee, McCaslin, Barr, Saling, Rasmussen and Wojahn; by request of Legislative Budget Committee

Amending committee voucher authority.

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 24, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; DeJarnatt, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Desley Brooks (786-7443); Barbara Howard (786-7410)

                  March 8, 1989

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 7, 1989

BACKGROUND:

All expenses incurred by the Legislative Budget Committee, including salaries and expenses of employees, must be paid upon a voucher form.  The voucher must be signed by the chair or vice chair of the committee and attested to by the committee secretary.  It has been suggested that during the interim period between legislative sessions this presents problems because the chair and vice chair are often in their districts, not in Olympia.  In that circumstance, vouchers must be mailed from person to person then finally back to the committee office in Olympia for processing.

SUMMARY:

The Legislative Budget Committee may delegate authority to the legislative auditor to sign committee expense vouchers.  The authorization must be in writing and specify a dollar limitation. The legislative auditor shall submit a monthly report of such vouchers to the executive committee.  Should the committee retain the authority to sign vouchers then only the chair's signature, or the vice chair's in the chair's absence, is necessary to authorize the vouchers.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: FOR:  Senator Lee, Chair, LBC; Cheryle Broom, Legislative Auditor; Gerry Mclaughlin, LBC staff