FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2436

                         C 108 L 98

                     Synopsis as Enacted

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.

House Committee on Government Administration

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

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is  allowed to terminate, it is given one year to conclude its affairs before the laws establishing the agency are repealed.  

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.  The 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 the 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, following a Sunset Act review by the JLARC that is to be completed by June 30, 1999.  The JLARC has recommended that the scheduled sunset review be canceled and that CINTRAFOR continue without further sunset review.

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, following a Sunset Act review by the JLARC that is to be completed by June 30, 1999.  The JLARC has recommended that the review be postponed and the termination date for the office be moved to June 30, 2008.

Summary:  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. 

Votes on Final Passage:

House951

Senate480

Effective:June 11, 1998