House Bill Analysis

HB 2858

Title: AN ACT Relating to reports to the legislature.

Brief Description: Eliminating certain reports to the legislature.

Sponsor: Schmidt, D., Dunshee, Governor Locke.

Brief Summary

CEliminates or alters requirements for various reports to be made, including the elimination of obsolete one-time reports.

House State Government Committee

Staff: Steve Lundin  (786-7127)

Background:

A number of laws have been enacted requiring state agencies to prepare reports.  Some of these reports were one-time reports, while other reports are on-going reports.

Legislation was enacted in 1998 eliminating obsolete requirements for over 240 reports to be prepared by state agencies.  Legislation was enacted in 1999 eliminating a number of obsolete requirements for one-time reports to the legislature, a number of on-going reports to the legislature, and a number of other reports that were required to be made.

 Summary:

Requirements are eliminated or altered for a number of reports and studies by state agencies.

Obsolete requirements are eliminated for the following one-time reports to the legislature:

CThe Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) submitting a plan for providing services to at risk mothers who have delivered a drug or alcohol exposed infant.

CThe Department of Health and Public Works Board reporting on the status of the safe drinking water program.

CThe DSHS reporting on the circumstances of contracting with private attorneys to provide paternity establishment services.

CThe DSHS reporting on its review of training standards for administrators and resident care-giving staff of boarding homes.

CThe DSHS reporting on training standards for administrators, residential managers, and care-giving staff of adult family homes.

Requirements are eliminated for the following on-going reports:

CAnnual reports by the DSHS to the legislature on economic, gender, geographic, or racial disproportionality in the rates of arrest, detention, trial, treatment, and disposition in the juvenile justice system.

CAnnual reports by the DSHS to the legislature on its risk assessment process when investigating alleged child abuse and neglect referrals.

CAnnual reports by the Office of Financial Management (OFM) to the governor and legislature on use of the significant rules adoption process.

CAnnual reports by the DSHS to the legislature on debts due to DSHS.

CAnnual reports by the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development to the governor and legislature on the accomplishments of its employee ownership program.

CAnnual reports by the DSHS to the governor and legislature on birth control services provided to women who receive chemical dependency treatment.

CAnnual reports by the DSHS to the governor and legislature on its success with regard to adoptive and foster home placements.

CAnnual reports by the DSHS to the legislature on the number of times it declined to accept custody of a child from a law enforcement agency under the family reconciliation act.

CAnnual reports by the DSHS on transfers under the family preservation services program.

CAnnual quality assurance reports by the DSHS on its children=s services system.

CAnnual reports by the DSHS to the legislature on rates at which intensive family preservation services prevent out-of-home placements.

CAnnual reports by the DSHS to the governor and legislature on its license suspension program for persons who are not in compliance with child support orders.  The requirement to make these reports ends on December 2, 2002.

CAnnual reports by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to the legislature on salmon and steelhead harvests.

In addition, the biennial report by the OFM to the legislature on mental health services provided to children is eliminated, along with the requirement for OFM to develop a plan for using early periodic screening, diagnosis, and mental health treatment services for children.

The requirement is eliminated that the Department of Fish and Wildlife include the cost of running its all state-funded salmon production facilities at full capacity as part of its biennial budget request.

The one-time requirement is eliminated for the Fish and Wildlife Commission to submit a detailed salmon enhancement plan, along with the restriction that the Commission may not approve salmon enhancement projects replacing projects that existed prior to May 21, 1985, unless no other sources of funds are available.

Rule Making Authority: No Express Authority

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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