HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1625

As Reported by House Committee On:

Capital Budget

Title:  An act relating to fiscal matters.

Brief Description:  Providing for supplemental capital budget appropriations.

Sponsors:  Representatives Esser, McIntire, Alexander and Murray; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Capital Budget:  2/21/01, 3/26/01 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Makes a supplemental appropriation for the 1999-2001 biennium of $2.5 million for the University of Washington to purchase land for its Tacoma branch campus, and an additional $1.3 million for the classroom/laboratory project at Highline Community College.

$Removes the reference to 48 beds in a housing unit for the new Special Commitment Center and makes changes and corrections to budget provisos.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL BUDGET

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 16 members: Representatives Alexander, Republican Co‑Chair; Murray, Democratic Co‑Chair; Armstrong, Republican Vice Chair; Esser, Republican Vice Chair; McIntire, Democratic Vice Chair; Bush, Casada, Hankins, Hunt, O'Brien, Ogden, Poulsen, Reardon, Schoesler, Veloria and Woods.

Staff:  Charlie Gavigan (786‑7340).

Background:

Washington State is on a biennial budget cycle.  The Legislature authorizes expenditures for capital needs in the capital budget for a two-year period, and authorizes bond sales through passage of a Bond Bill associated with the capital budget.  The current capital budget covers the period from July 1, 1999, through June 30, 2001.  The Legislature passed a supplemental capital budget in 2000 for the 1999-2001 biennium.

Summary of  Substitute Bill:

A supplemental appropriation is made for the 1999-2001 biennium of $2.5 million for the University of Washington to purchase land for its Tacoma branch campus, and an additional $1.3 million for the classroom/laboratory project at Highline Community College.  These appropriations are made from the Education Construction Account.

A reference to 48 beds in a housing unit of the new Special Commitment Center is removed, leaving the number of beds unstated.  Technical corrections are made to two provisos.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill adds $1.3 million to the 1999 appropriation for Highline Community College=s classroom/laboratory project.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  The University of Washington needs the supplemental capital budget appropriation for its Tacoma Branch Campus.  Additional funds should be added to the supplemental capital budget for the classroom/laboratory project at Highline Community College.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Thomas Henderson, State Board of Community and Technical Colleges; Priscilla Bell and Laura Saunders, Highline Community College; and Marilyn Cox, University of Washington.