HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2459

As Passed Legislature

Title: An act relating to fiscal matters.

Brief Description: Making supplemental operating appropriations.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Sommers, Fromhold and Sehlin; by request of Governor Locke).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Appropriations: 2/23/04, 2/24/04 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/25/04, 51-45.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate: 3/11/04, 34-15.

House Concurred.

Passed House: 3/11/04, 84-12.

Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Cody, Conway, Dunshee, Grant, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, McIntire, Miloscia, Ruderman and Schual-Berke.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Sehlin, Ranking Minority Member; Pearson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Anderson, Boldt, Buck, Chandler, Clements, Cox, McDonald, Sump and Talcott.

Staff: Victor Moore (786-7143).

Background:

The state government operates on the basis of a fiscal biennium that begins on July 1 of each odd-numbered year. A biennial operating budget was enacted in the 2003 legislative session, appropriating $23.1 billion from the state general fund.

Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill:

Appropriations are modified for the 2003-05 fiscal biennium. Prior to the supplemental budget, the total appropriation was $38.6 billion, of which $23.1 billion was from the state general fund.

The 2004 Supplemental Operating Budget (including those appropriations made in House Bill 1777, home care workers contract) increases general fund spending by $145 million, a 0.6 percent increase from the original budget. Total appropriations are increased by $634 million.

Including the changes made by the supplemental budget, total appropriations for the 2003-05 fiscal biennium are $39.2 billion, of which $23.2 billion is from the state general fund.

Appropriation: Please refer to the bill.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Persons Testifying (In support) Gary Alexander, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Terry Teale, Council of Presidents; Len McComb, Washington State Hospital and the Community Health Plan of Washington; Earl Hale, SBCTC; Seth Dawson, NAMI of Washington; Jim Sulton, HECB; Judy McNichle, WWU; Randy Hodgins, UW; Larry Ganders, WSU; Ann Anderson, CWU; Tom Parker, Private colleges; Terry Bergeson, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Jim Huckabay, CWU and the Council of Faculty Representatives; Gail Stygall, UW and the Council of Faculty Representatives; Wendy Rader-Konfalski, Washington Federation of Teachers; Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, Washington Public Interest Group; Charlie Brown, Washington Asparagus Council; Suzi Tracey, Washington State Medical Association; and Ruth Windhover, WEA.

(In support with concerns) Randy Dorn, PSE; Randy Parr, WEA; Dawn Vyvyan, Mailing and Fulfillment Services Association; Ray Schow, ANP Printing; Lynn Maier, WPEA; and Robby Stern, WSLC.

(Concerns) Donna Patrick, DD Council, Arc of WA and REW; Kathleen Collins, Washington Water Policy Alliance; Melissa Johnson, Addus Health Care; Ellie Menzies, SEIU; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Collaborative; Brendan Williams, Washington Health Care Association; and Terry Kohl, Washington State Residential Care Association.

(Comments) Dan Fazio, Washington Farm Bureau.

(Other) Cynthia Shurtleff, American Academy of Pediatrics; Cherie Tessier; Dave Steiner, Community Residential Services Association; Laurie Lippold, Children's Home Society; Kevin Glackin-Coley, Childrens Alliance; Laurie St Ours, Norwest Assisted Living Facilities Association; Nick Federici, Lung Association; Jackie Derr, UW Medicine, Harborview; Claire Hesselholt, Office of Regulatory Assistance; Bruce Wishart, People for Puget Sound; Dorothy Gibson, Childcare Workforce, Alliance of WA, WFT; Remy Trupin, Jewish Federation; Deb Murphy, Washington Association of Housing Services for the Aging; Tony Lee, Asian Pacific Islands Coalition; Jean Wessman, Washington State Association of Counties; Larry Keller, Kitsap Mental Health Services; and TK Bentler, Washington Association of Neighborhood Stores.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.