HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2436

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to the review and termination of the center for international trade in forest products and the office of public defense under the Washington sunset act.

Brief Description:  Eliminating review and termination of the center for international trade in forest products and delaying review and termination of the office of public defense under the Washington sunset act.

Sponsors:  Representatives McMorris, Huff, Backlund, H. Sommers, Gardner, Wensman, Ogden, Regala and Alexander; by request of Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Government Administration:  1/30/98, 2/3/98 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/13/98, 95-1.

Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Gardner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Murray; L. Thomas; Wensman and Wolfe.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 3 members:  Representatives Dunn; Dunshee and Smith.

Staff:  John Carmichael (786-7093).

Background:  The Washington Sunset Act of 1977 establishes a schedule for reviewing and terminating certain state agencies.  A termination date is scheduled for each agency included in the act.  One year before an agency's termination date, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) reviews the agency and makes recommendations to the Legislature.  The Legislature may allow the agency to terminate, may allow the agency to continue with another review scheduled for a later date, or may allow the agency to continue without scheduling further review.  If the agency is  allowed to terminate, it is given one year to conclude its affairs before the laws establishing the agency are repealed.  

1.The Center for International Trade in Forest Products

The Center for International Trade in Forest Products (CINTRAFOR) was established in 1985.  The center's responsibilities include developing and disseminating research and information to expand forest-based international trade.  CINTRAFOR last underwent sunset review in 1993.  The report of the 1993 sunset review raised concerns that the center was not meeting the Legislature's intent to focus more closely on secondary manufacturing issues.  Following the 1993 sunset review, the Legislature modified CINTRAFOR's enabling legislation to require the center to cooperate with community and technical colleges in developing a curriculum on wood products manufacturing.  The Legislature also required that at least 50 percent of the center's executive policy board represent small- and medium-sized businesses.

CINTRAFOR is currently scheduled to terminate on June 30, 2000.  The schedule established by the Sunset Act requires JLARC to complete a preliminary review of the center by June 30, 1999.  JLARC has recommended that the scheduled sunset review be canceled and that CINTRAFOR continue without further sunset review.

2.The Office of Public Defense

The Office of Public Defense was established in 1996 to administer criminal indigent appellate services.  The Office of Public Defense is scheduled to be terminated on June 30, 2000, which would require JLARC to complete a preliminary review of the office by June 30, 1999.  JLARC has recommended that the review be postponed and the termination date for the office be moved to June 30, 2008.

Summary of Bill:  The Center for International Trade in Forest Products is continued.  No future sunset review or termination is scheduled.

The Office of Public Defense is continued.  A new termination date of June 30, 2008, is scheduled, with a JLARC review scheduled for 2007. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This is a housekeeping bill that will allow JLARC to focus its resources where they will do the most good.  CINTRAFOR has already been reviewed twice.  No agency has ever gone through sunset review three times.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Cathy McMorris, prime sponsor; and Cheryle Broom, Joint Legislative and Review Committee.