BILL REQ. #:  H-3052.1 

Read first time 01/18/12.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to requiring a six-year budget outlook tied to existing revenues; adding a new section to chapter 43.88 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the citizens of Washington state are best served by enacting sustainable operating budgets. The legislature further finds a six-year budget outlook tied to existing revenues will help legislators and citizens plan for and create sustainable operating budgets.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.88 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) When the governor submits his or her operating budget documents to the legislature as provided in RCW 43.88.030 and 43.88.060, the office of financial management shall simultaneously publish a six-year outlook that is based on the governor's budget documents. The revenue and caseload projections used in the six-year outlook must be based on the most recent official forecasts adopted by the economic and revenue forecast council and the caseload forecast council, adjusted by the office of financial management for policy changes made in the governor's budget documents.
     (2) Before the house of representatives or the senate or any standing committee of either house of the legislature may vote on an operating budget, the respective house's fiscal committee that has jurisdiction over the operating budget shall publish a summary document estimating how that operating budget proposal changes the office of financial management's six-year outlook published under subsection (1) of this section. The summary document must be updated to reflect the most current forecast revisions adopted by the economic and revenue forecast council and the caseload forecast council. For purposes of this subsection, "vote" means the vote on a majority recommendation in the case of a legislative committee and the vote on third reading in the case of either the senate or the house of representatives.
     (3) The six-year outlook developed under subsection (1) of this section and adjusted under subsection (2) of this section must include an estimate of all budget decisions for which no specific funding source is identified and for programs with a delayed effective date.