SB 6851 - DIGEST

     Provides that any department, agency, or institution of higher education may purchase services, including services that have been customarily and historically provided by employees in the classified service under chapter 41.06 RCW, by contracting with individuals, nonprofit organizations, businesses, employee business units, or other entities.

     Directs the office of financial management to establish a process for identifying the savings achieved by state agencies and institutions of higher education as a result of contracting for services under the authority granted in this act.  Expenditures during the 1999-2001 fiscal biennium shall constitute the baseline for purposes of calculating the savings.

     Declares an intent that, from the up to seven hundred million dollars in identified savings, fifty percent be directed to providing increased state funding for common school education programs and common school construction and fifty percent be directed to providing increased state funding for transportation projects and programs.

     Repeals RCW 41.06.380 and 41.06.382.

     Directs the secretary of state to submit this act to the people for their adoption and ratification, or rejection, at the next general election to be held in this state, in accordance with Article II, section 1 of the state Constitution and the laws adopted to facilitate its operation.