HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1180

As Reported by House Committee On:

Health Care

Title:  An act relating to obtaining and expending funds for the public health system.

Brief Description:  Obtaining and expending funds for the public health system.

Sponsors:  Representatives Cody, Marine, Ruderman, McMorris and Schual‑Berke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care:  2/2/01, 2/6/01 [DPS].

  Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$The Department of Health can solicit funds and place them in a dedicated account.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Campbell, Republican Co‑Chair; Cody, Democratic Co‑Chair; Schual‑Berke, Democratic Vice Chair; Skinner, Republican Vice Chair; Alexander, Ballasiotes, Conway, Darneille, Edwards, Marine, McMorris, Pennington and Ruderman.

Staff:  Dave Knutson (786‑7146).

Background:

The Department of Health is authorized to accept gifts, grants, or other funds.  Current statutory language does not authorize the department to solicit funds from public and private sources.

If the department receives gifts or grants, the funds are either treated as unanticipated receipts requiring Office of Financial Management approval, or are deposited in the general fund, requiring appropriation by the Legislature.

Summary of  Substitute Bill:

The Department of Health is authorized to solicit funds from public and private sources.

A public health supplemental account is created to receive funds solicited by the department to maintain and improve the public health system.  No appropriation is required for the Secretary of the Department of Health to authorize expenditures from the account.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

Funds deposited in the public health supplemental account cannot be used to support or add to full-time equivalent staff positions in the Department of Health.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Passage of this legislation will allow the Department of Health to pursue public and private funding to support important public health services.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Patty Hayes, Department of Health.