Brief Description: Funding services within the department of general administration.

Sponsors: Representatives Alexander, Sommers, Romero and Hunt; by request of Department of General Administration.

Hearing Date: 2/19/03

Staff: Holly Lynde (786-7153).

Background:

The Department of General Administration (GA) is charged with a variety of duties, including fleet management and facilities services.

State Motor Pool

The state motor pool was created in 1975 within the GA to provide motor pool transportation services to state agencies. The 1,400 passenger motor vehicles in the state motor pool are driven approximately 21 million miles each year. Ten percent of the fleet is available for rental; the rest is permanently assigned to other state agencies, although the GA maintains and replaces these vehicles on a fee-for-service basis.

To replace a vehicle that is past its useful life or has been damaged beyond recovery, the GA does not need an appropriation from the Legislature. However, an appropriation is required to purchase additional vehicles. The GA charges mileage and rental fees to agencies for using motor pool vehicles. The fees range from $12 to $23 per day, plus between $0.11 and $0.21 per mile, depending on the type or class of vehicle and are designed to cover vehicle operation, depreciation, overhead, nonrecoverable collision or damage, and replacement.

When the state motor pool was created, most state agencies transferred their motor pool vehicles to the GA. When an agency transfers a vehicle to the GA, if the original agency acquired the vehicle without cost or purchased the vehicle with a general fund appropriation, the GA credits the original agency the value of the vehicle rather than purchasing the vehicle outright.

Commemorative Works on the Capitol Campus

There are currently 19 commemorative works located on the Capitol Campus. The oldest was erected in 1938; the most recent in 1999. The funding to maintain and repair these commemorative works is appropriated by the Legislature in the GA Services Revolving Account through Seat of Government charges.

Summary of Bill:

State Motor Pool

The requirement that the GA obtain an appropriation from the Legislature to add a vehicle to the existing motor pool fleet is eliminated. The GA will use rental and mileage fees charged to state agencies to purchase additional vehicles for the state motor pool and so will set the fees accordingly.

The GA is also no longer required to:

      •    credit other state agencies for vehicles transferred to the state motor pool;

      •    repay any appropriation for an additional vehicle purchase from the surpluses of the GA Services Account; or

      •    maintain a motor pool for state agencies located in Seattle.

Commemorative Works on the Capitol Campus

The Commemorative Works Account, a nonappropriated account, is created to fund the ongoing care, maintenance, and repair of future commemorative works on the state capitol grounds. The account retains the interest on its earnings.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.