HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2318

As Passed House:

February 12, 2002

Title:  An act relating to the insurance commissioner's participation on the Washington health care facilities authority.

Brief Description:  Allowing a designee to represent the insurance commissioner on the health care facilities authority.

Sponsors:  By Representatives Cody, Campbell, Kenney and Edwards; by request of Insurance Commissioner.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care:  1/17/02, 1/25/02 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/12/02, 97-0.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Authorizes the insurance commissioner to designate a staff person to act on his behalf in his absence on the Health Care Facilities Authority.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Schual‑Berke, Vice Chair; Campbell, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Ballasiotes, Benson, Conway, Darneille, Edwards, Ruderman and Skinner.

Staff:  Dave Knutson (786‑7146).

Background:

The Washington Health Care Facilities Authority was created to assist and encourage the construction of modern, well-equipped, and reasonably priced health care facilities. The authority is authorized to issue bonds for the construction, purchase, acquisition, rental, or lease of health care facilities by participants.  The authority is made up of the governor, who serves as chair, the lieutenant governor, the insurance commissioner, the secretary of health, and a member of the public appointed by the governor.  The governor is authorized to designate an employee of his office to act on his behalf when the governor is absent.

Summary of Bill:

The insurance commissioner is also authorized to designate an employee to act on his behalf when the insurance commissioner is absent.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  This change will allow the Health Care Facilities Authority to operate in an efficient manner.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Carrie Tollefson, Office of the Insurance Commissioner.