HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1827

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      State Government

Title:  An act relating to public printing.

Brief Description:  Concerning printing contracts entered into by state agencies.

Sponsors:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Romero and McMorris.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

State Government:  2/17/99, 3/2/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$With certain exceptions, printing, binding, and stationary work done for state agencies must be done in this state.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives McMorris, Republican Co-Chair; Campbell, Republican Vice Chair; Miloscia, Democratic Vice Chair; Dunshee; Haigh; Lambert and D. Schmidt.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Romero, Democratic Co-Chair.

Staff:  Steve Lundin (786-7127).

Background:

All printing, binding, and stationary work done for a county, city, town, port district, or school district shall be done in this state.  However, this work may be done outside of the state if the:

$work cannot be executed within the state;

$lowest charge for which the work can be procured in the state exceeds the charge usually and customarily made to private individuals and corporations for similar work; or

$bids for the work are excessive and not reasonably competitive.

A similar restriction does not exist for printing done for state agencies.

Summary of Bill:

Printing, binding, and stationary work ordered by a state agency must be done in the state, subject to the same exceptions for out of state work that are currently applicable to such work ordered by a county, city, town, port district, or school district.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 17, 1999.

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

Testimony For:  This brings the state into line with what local governments are required to do.  We represent small in-state printers who pay higher wages and have requirements for better working conditions than many out-of-state printers.  Our printers can do this work.

Testimony Against:  This will increase the costs of printing our pamphlets.  We will get only a few bids if we are limited to in-state printers.  There will be a lack of competition and higher prices.

Testified:  (In favor) Representative D. Schmidt, prime sponsor; Rowland Thompson, Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington; and Robby Stern, Washington State Labor Council.

(In favor with amendments) Gary Smith, Individual Business Association; and Carolyn Logue, National Federation of Independent Businesses.

  (Opposed) Brian Edie, Department of Fish and Wildlife.