SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2599

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

       Labor & Workforce Development, February 22, 2000

Title:  An act relating to creating an education and training program for port district officials.

Brief Description:  Creating a training program for port district officials.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Doumit, Mulliken, Scott, Fisher and Alexander).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor & Workforce Development:  2/22/2000 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Fairley, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Hochstatter, Kline, Oke and Wojahn.

Staff:  Elizabeth Mitchell (786-7430)

Background:  There is concern that small rural ports may be unable to fund staff participation in education and training opportunities.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Port districts are authorized to utilize the services of a nonprofit corporation in order to provide training and education for port district officials and employees.  Port districts are authorized to transfer funds received from industrial development corporations to the nonprofit corporation.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The State Auditor is not limited to auditing the ports association solely to determine compliance with the contractual terms and conditions under which payments or reimbursements of public funds are received under Chapter 53.06.  The State Auditor is authorized to audit the financial records of any nonprofit corporation utilized by the port districts.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Speakers indicated that they supported the bill with an amendment clarifying the ability of the State Auditor to examine the records of the port association.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Doumit, prime sponsor; Linda Long, State Auditor's Office; Pat Jones, Washington Public Ports Association.