HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1073

                      As Passed House:

                        March 4, 1999

Title:  An act relating to alternative bid procedures for public hospital districts.

Brief Description:  Changing alternative bid processes for public hospital districts.

Sponsors:  Representatives D. Schmidt and Romero; by request of Alternative Public Works Methods Oversight Committee.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

State Government: 1/26/99, 2/9/99 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/4/99, 95-0.

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Changes the dollar amount for public hospital district contracts using the small works roster.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 8 members: Representatives McMorris, Republican Co-Chair; Romero, Democratic Co-Chair; Campbell, Republican Vice Chair; Miloscia, Democratic Vice Chair; Dunshee; Haigh; Lambert and Schmidt.

Staff: Scott MacColl  (786-7106).

Background:

Public hospital districts may use the 'small works roster process' in lieu of the sealed bid process to award contracts for certain public works projects, normally of a medium level dollar value.  Current hospital district law permits contracts in excess of $50,000, rather than less than $50,000, to be awarded using the small works roster process.

The small works roster process, as defined in RCW 39.04.155, is a single roster that a hospital district maintains of all responsible contractors that request to be on the list.  When a contract is up for bid, the district secures quotes from at least five contractors from the list.  Once a contractor bids on a proposal, they cannot bid again until all contractors on the list have an opportunity to submit a bid on a contract.  However, if the district desires, they may solicit bids from all contractors on the list for each contract.

Summary of Bill:

Public hospital district contracting processes are changed as follows:

(1) The value of contracts that may be awarded by public hospital districts using the small works roster process is altered from an amount in excess of $50,000 to projects estimated to cost less than $50,000.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: This is a technical cleanup bill.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: (Supports) Lisa Thatcher, Public Hospital Districts.