[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to interpreter services for public assistance recipients; amending RCW 39.29.040 and 43.19.190; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that limited-English speaking and sensory-impaired applicants and recipients of public assistance often require interpreter services in order to communicate effectively with employees of the department of social and health services, medical professionals, and other social services personnel. The legislature further finds that interpreter services can be procured and delivered through a variety of different means. It is in the public's interest for the department to deliver interpreter services, to the extent funds are available, by the means which it determines most cost-effectively ensure that limited-English speaking and sensory-impaired persons are able to communicate with department employees and service providers.

Sec. 2. RCW 39.29.040 and 1998 c 101 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

This chapter does not apply to:

(1) Contracts specifying a fee of less than five thousand dollars if the total of the contracts from that agency with the contractor within a fiscal year does not exceed five thousand dollars;

(2) Contracts awarded to companies that furnish a service where the tariff is established by the utilities and transportation commission or other public entity;

(3) Intergovernmental agreements awarded to any governmental entity, whether federal, state, or local and any department, division, or subdivision thereof;

(4) Contracts awarded for services to be performed for a standard fee, when the standard fee is established by the contracting agency or any other governmental entity and a like contract is available to all qualified applicants;

(5) Contracts for services that are necessary to the conduct of collaborative research if prior approval is granted by the funding source;

(6) Contracts for client services;

(7) Contracts for architectural and engineering services as defined in RCW 39.80.020, which shall be entered into under chapter 39.80 RCW;

(8) Contracts for the employment of expert witnesses for the purposes of litigation; ((~~and~~))

(9) Contracts for bank supervision authorized under RCW 30.38.040; and

(10) Contracts for interpreter services and interpreter brokerage services on behalf of limited-English speaking or sensory-impaired applicants and recipients of public assistance.

Sec. 3. RCW 43.19.190 and 1995 c 269 s 1401 are each amended to read as follows:

The director of general administration, through the state purchasing and material control director, shall:

(1) Establish and staff such administrative organizational units within the division of purchasing as may be necessary for effective administration of the provisions of RCW 43.19.190 through 43.19.1939;

(2) Purchase all material, supplies, services, and equipment needed for the support, maintenance, and use of all state institutions, colleges, community colleges, technical colleges, college districts, and universities, the offices of the elective state officers, the supreme court, the court of appeals, the administrative and other departments of state government, and the offices of all appointive officers of the state: PROVIDED, That the provisions of RCW 43.19.190 through 43.19.1937 do not apply in any manner to the operation of the state legislature except as requested by the legislature: PROVIDED, That any agency may purchase material, supplies, services, and equipment for which the agency has notified the purchasing and material control director that it is more cost-effective for the agency to make the purchase directly from the vendor: PROVIDED, That primary authority for the purchase of specialized equipment, instructional, and research material for their own use shall rest with the colleges, community colleges, and universities: PROVIDED FURTHER, That universities operating hospitals and the state purchasing and material control director, as the agent for state hospitals as defined in RCW 72.23.010, and for health care programs provided in state correctional institutions as defined in RCW 72.65.010(3) and veterans' institutions as defined in RCW 72.36.010 and 72.36.070, may make purchases for hospital operation by participating in contracts for materials, supplies, and equipment entered into by nonprofit cooperative hospital group purchasing organizations: PROVIDED FURTHER, That primary authority for the purchase of materials, supplies, and equipment for resale to other than public agencies shall rest with the state agency concerned: PROVIDED FURTHER, That authority to purchase services as included herein does not apply to personal services as defined in chapter 39.29 RCW, unless such organization specifically requests assistance from the division of purchasing in obtaining personal services and resources are available within the division to provide such assistance: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the authority for the purchase of insurance and bonds shall rest with the risk manager under RCW 43.19.1935: PROVIDED FURTHER, That, except for the authority of the risk manager to purchase insurance and bonds, the director is not required to provide purchasing services for institutions of higher education that choose to exercise independent purchasing authority under RCW 28B.10.029: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the authority to purchase interpreter services and interpreter brokerage services on behalf of limited-English speaking or sensory-impaired applicants and recipients of public assistance shall rest with the department of social and health services;

(3) Have authority to delegate to state agencies authorization to purchase or sell, which authorization shall specify restrictions as to dollar amount or to specific types of material, equipment, services, and supplies. Acceptance of the purchasing authorization by a state agency does not relieve such agency from conformance with other sections of RCW 43.19.190 through 43.19.1939, or from policies established by the director. Also, delegation of such authorization to a state agency, including an educational institution to which this section applies, to purchase or sell material, equipment, services, and supplies shall not be granted, or otherwise continued under a previous authorization, if such agency is not in substantial compliance with overall state purchasing and material control policies as established herein;

(4) Contract for the testing of material, supplies, and equipment with public and private agencies as necessary and advisable to protect the interests of the state;

(5) Prescribe the manner of inspecting all deliveries of supplies, materials, and equipment purchased through the division;

(6) Prescribe the manner in which supplies, materials, and equipment purchased through the division shall be delivered, stored, and distributed;

(7) Provide for the maintenance of a catalogue library, manufacturers' and wholesalers' lists, and current market information;

(8) Provide for a commodity classification system and may, in addition, provide for the adoption of standard specifications;

(9) Provide for the maintenance of inventory records of supplies, materials, and other property;

(10) Prepare rules and regulations governing the relationship and procedures between the division of purchasing and state agencies and vendors;

(11) Publish procedures and guidelines for compliance by all state agencies, including those educational institutions to which this section applies, which implement overall state purchasing and material control policies;

(12) Advise state agencies, including educational institutions, regarding compliance with established purchasing and material control policies under existing statutes.