Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Ways & Means Committee

HB 2757

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Creating accounts for the center for childhood deafness and hearing loss and for the school for the blind.

Sponsors: Representative Moeller; by request of Washington State School for the Blind and Center for Childhood Deafness.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Establishes the Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss Account and the School for the Blind Account.

Hearing Date:

Staff: Wendy Polzin (786-7137).

Background:

The Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness and Childhood Hearing Loss and the Washington State School for the Blind are residential schools located in Vancouver, Washington.

To date, fees collected from the following have been deposited into the respective schools General Fund-Local Account with permission of the Office of Financial Management: (1) Fees for services charged to out of state residents; and (2) Charges for contracts with school districts for students serviced by the district, who seek additional consultation or advice from the schools.

Recently, accounting functions were transferred from the schools to the Small Agency Client Services (SACS). At this time the SACS informed the schools and the Office of Financial Management (OFM) that depositing these funds into the General Fund-Local Account would not allow the schools to carry funds forward from year to year, as had previously been allowed by the OFM.

Summary of Bill:

The legislation creates an account for both the Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss and the Washington State School for the Blind, to be used for fees for contracts, tuition, donations, and other incomes. The accounts are non-appropriated but allotted, and the accounts will retain their interest earnings.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2012.