VETO MESSAGE ON HB 2163-S2

May 16, 2005

To the Honorable Speaker and Members,

The House of Representatives of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am returning, without my approval as to Section 4, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 2163 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to preventing and ending homelessness in the state of Washington."

Section 4 requires the Governor to create a cabinet level interagency council to include at least seven state agencies. The section specifies that membership is to consist of the directors of those agencies, and does not offer latitude for those directors to delegate membership to staff. Unfortunately, the interagency council is just one of many work groups the Legislature has proposed this year requiring cabinet directors to participate in certain activities. Agency directors cannot do everything themselves and must be allowed to appropriately delegate certain tasks to staff.

Although I am vetoing this section, I am directing the directors of each of the seven agencies named in Section 4 of this bill to ensure that a senior staff member from their agency is clearly designated as that agency's lead on homelessness issues and designated to coordinate with the staff at the Department of Community Trade and Economic Development who will be developing the state's homeless housing plan.

For these reasons, I have vetoed sections 4 of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 2163.

With the exception of sections 4, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 2163 is approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Christine O. Gregoire

Governor