SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5264

As Passed Senate, March 14, 2003

Title: An act relating to the lieutenant governor.

Brief Description: Providing transportation to the lieutenant governor's spouse for activities conducted on behalf of the state.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections (originally sponsored by Senators West, Swecker, Jacobsen, Sheahan, Hargrove and Hale).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/11/03, 3/4/03 [DPS w/oRec-WM].

Ways & Means: 3/10/03 [DPS (GO)].

Passed Senate: 3/14/03, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5264 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill be referred to Committee on Ways & Means without recommendation.

      Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Stevens, Vice Chair; Fairley, Horn and McCaslin.

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5264 as recommended by Committee on Government Operations & Elections be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Rossi, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Brown, Doumit, Fairley, Fraser, Hale, Honeyford, Johnson, Parlette, Regala, Roach, Sheahan, B. Sheldon and Winsley.

Staff: Chelsea Buchanan (786-7446)

Background: The Washington State Patrol (WSP) must provide security and protection for the Governor, the Governor's family, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Governor-elect. This security is provided by the Executive Protection Unit.

If the Lieutenant Governor is not present, the Lieutenant Governor's spouse is not eligible for security, protection, or transportation by the WSP, even if on business related to the office of Lieutenant Governor.

Summary of Bill: The Washington State Patrol must provide transportation for the Lieutenant Governor's spouse when conducting official state business in conjunction with the Lieutenant Governor.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Testimony For (Ways & Means): Under current law, the Lt. Governor's spouse cannot be transported without the Lt. Governor. There have been a few instances in the last few years in which transportation of the Lt. Governor's spouse by the Washington State Patrol would have been more efficient and appropriate. For example, when the President of Peru visited with his wife, the President rode with the Lt. Governor in one patrol car, but the Lt. Governor's wife could not follow in another patrol car with the President's wife since the Lt. Governor was not with her. The bill was never intended to provide security, which is expensive, to the Lt. Governor's spouse. Only occasional transportation is necessary, and it will be needed only occasionally.

Testimony Against (Ways & Means): None.

Testified (Ways & Means): Glenn Dunnam, Office of the Lieutenant Governor (pro).