HOUSE BILL REPORT

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.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Ways & Means

Title: An act relating to establishing the center for childhood deafness and hearing loss account and the school for the blind account.

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 History:

Committee Activity:

Ways & Means: 2/6/12 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

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

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 27 members: Representatives Hunter, Chair; Darneille, Vice Chair; Hasegawa, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Dammeier, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Orcutt, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Carlyle, Chandler, Cody, Dickerson, Haigh, Haler, Hinkle, Hudgins, Hunt, Kagi, Kenney, Ormsby, Parker, Pettigrew, Ross, Schmick, Seaquist, Springer, Sullivan and Wilcox.

Staff: Wendy Polzin (786-7137).

Background:

The Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness and 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 (OFM): (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 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.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

The legislation creates an account for both the Washington State 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 allotted but nonappropriated, and the accounts will retain their interest earnings.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

A reference to the Superintendent of the Washington State School for the Blind is corrected. The July 1, 2012, effective date is removed.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) None.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.