SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5287

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 Passed Senate, March 8, 2013

Title: An act relating to eliminating accounts and funds.

Brief Description: Eliminating accounts and funds.

Sponsors: Senators Hill and Hargrove; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 2/04/13, 2/07/13 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 3/08/13, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5287 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Hill, Chair; Baumgartner, Vice Chair; Honeyford, Capital Budget Chair; Hargrove, Ranking Member; Nelson, Assistant Ranking Member; Bailey, Becker, Braun, Conway, Dammeier, Fraser, Hasegawa, Hatfield, Hewitt, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Murray, Padden, Parlette, Ranker, Rivers, Schoesler and Tom.

Staff: Steve Jones (786-7440)

Background: In addition to the state general fund, which may be expended for any lawful purpose, the state maintains several hundred funds and accounts that are dedicated to particular statutory purposes. These accounts generally fall into one of three categories: (1) accounts located in the state treasury, thereby subject to appropriation by the Legislature; (2) accounts held in the custody of the State Treasurer and typically not subject to legislative appropriation; and (3) accounts located in state agencies and institutions of higher education, known as local accounts. Some funds and accounts, due to lack of recent activity, have been deemed by the Office of Financial Management (OFM) to be inactive accounts.

Summary of Bill: The following accounts are eliminated:

Various statutory references to these accounts are eliminated or modified. Technical corrections are made to the Enterprise Services Account. Remaining monies in the accounts being eliminated are transferred to the state general fund or other relevant fund.

The State Treasurer, OFM, and the Code Reviser must review and recommend repeal or decodification of obsolete capital construction accounts and bond authorization statutes. Their recommendations will be submitted to the 2015 Legislature.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 30, 2013.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The state has more than 600 funds and accounts, and recent legislative efforts have eliminated approximately 60 obsolete or inactive funds. This legislation is a continuation of that process.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Shane Esquibel, OFM.