SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2649

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

  Energy, Technology & Telecommunications, February 24, 2000

Title:  An act relating to providing information services to public benefit nonprofit corporations.

Brief Description:  Granting the department of information services the authority to provide services to nonprofit organizations.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Technology, Telecommunications & Energy (originally sponsored by Representatives Wolfe, Radcliff and Ruderman; by request of Department of Information Services).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Energy, Technology & Telecommunications:  2/17/2000, 2/24/2000 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Brown, Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Fairley and Fraser.

Staff:  William Bridges (786-7424)

Background:  The Department of Information Services (DIS) provides services, such as SCAN long distance service, to about 33 public benefit nonprofit organizations on a full cost recovery basis.  Concerns have been raised that DIS may lack the statutory authority to provide services to these organizations.

Summary of Bill:  DIS is granted express authority to provide services to public benefit nonprofit organizations on a full cost recovery basis.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This is a simple bill that allows DIS to offer services to nonprofits that receive at least 50 percent of their funding from the public.  DIS buys services from the private sector; it does not compete with the private sector.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Rep. Cathy Wolfe, prime sponsor; Sam Hunt, DIS.