HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESSB 6078
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:
State Government & Tribal Affairs
Title: An act relating to implementing efficiencies in the management of the state's natural resources.
Brief Description: Implementing efficiencies in the management of the state's natural resources.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Energy, Natural Resources & Marine Waters (originally sponsored by Senators Ranker, Swecker, Regala, Kline, Schoesler, Fain, Kilmer, Harper, Shin, Litzow, Fraser, Keiser, Conway, Hargrove and Rolfes).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
State Government & Tribal Affairs: 2/16/12, 2/20/12 [DP].
Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT & TRIBAL AFFAIRS |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Hunt, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Taylor, Ranking Minority Member; Overstreet, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Condotta, Darneille, Hurst, McCoy and Miloscia.
Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 1 member: Representative Dunshee.
Staff: Thamas Osborn (786-7129).
Background:
Washington has a number of state agencies and programs involved in managing the state's natural resources and environment. These agencies include the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Ecology, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Natural Resources, the Recreation and Conservation Office, the Puget Sound Partnership, and the State Parks and Recreation Commission.
These agencies are organized and managed through a variety of governance structures. Among the agencies are those governed by an independently elected official, citizen commissions with gubernatorially-appointed members, and agencies that are led by gubernatorially-appointed directors.
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Summary of Bill:
The following state agencies are directed to develop processes to identify, analyze, and implement measures to maximize administration efficiency and share resources: the State Parks and Recreation Commission; the Recreation and Conservation Office; the Puget Sound Partnership; the State Conservation Commission; and the departments of Agriculture, Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources, and Ecology (agencies).
The efficiency measures must be coordinated with the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and focus on areas such as process outcomes, interagency collaboration, consolidation of administrative functions, and facility colocation. In each area, the agencies must identify and analyze opportunities to improve the effectiveness of agency operations and resource management.
The agencies must maintain regular communication among themselves and identify efficiencies that must be effectuated when deemed appropriate by the agencies. Significant examples of improvements must be documented by the agencies. Annually, the agencies must develop a report to the Legislature regarding the implementation of the required processes, outcomes accomplished, and budget or legislative recommendations necessary to achieve efficiencies.
The OFM may also identify facility colocation opportunities independent from the agencies. If the OFM identifies a colocation opportunity, the agencies may determine that the recommendation does not meet the need of the agencies. If the agencies reject the recommendation, the OFM may still require the colocation to occur if the Director of the OFM determines that the colocation would result in significant cost savings and efficiencies, and is in the best interest of the state.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This is a good bill that will result in greater efficiency and cost savings. The bill is intended to push agencies towards working together to find cooperative means of sharing resources and eliminating redundancies. It will encourage the consolidation of administrative functions. The bill will promote efficiencies without a loss of services to the public. Colocation is one of the key goals of the bill, insofar as there is no need for each agency to have their own buildings. Colocation and the sharing of administrative functions are a better approach than the merger of agencies. The role of the OFM is critical to the bill.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Senator Ranker, prime sponsor; Lenny Young, Department of Natural Resources; Tim Young, Washington Federation of State Employees; and Gordon Baxter, Washington Association of Fish and Wildlife Professionals.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: David Giglio, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; and Jim Cahill, Office of Financial Management.