HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1047

As Passed Legislature

Title: An act relating to the state agencies continuity of operations planning requirements.

Brief Description: Concerning state agencies continuity of operations planning requirements.

Sponsors: Representatives Goodman, Haler, Moscoso, Appleton, Klippert, Muri, Hurst, S. Hunt, Hayes, Orwall, Johnson, MacEwen and Gregerson; by request of Military Department.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Public Safety: 1/14/15, 1/20/15 [DP];

Appropriations: 2/4/15, 2/19/15 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/2/15, 81-16.

Passed Senate: 4/15/15, 48-1.

Passed Legislature.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Goodman, Chair; Orwall, Vice Chair; Klippert, Ranking Minority Member; Hayes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Griffey, Moscoso, Pettigrew and Wilson.

Staff: Yvonne Walker (786-7841).

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 26 members: Representatives Hunter, Chair; Ormsby, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Parker, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Wilcox, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Carlyle, Cody, Dunshee, Fagan, Haler, Hansen, Hudgins, S. Hunt, Jinkins, Kagi, Lytton, MacEwen, Magendanz, Pettigrew, Sawyer, Senn, Springer, Stokesbary, Sullivan, Tharinger and Walkinshaw.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 6 members: Representatives Buys, Dent, G. Hunt, Schmick, Taylor and Van Werven.

Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 1 member: Representative Condotta.

Staff: Meghan Bunch (786-7119).

Background:

The Washington Military Department, under the direction of the Adjutant General, administers the state's comprehensive program of emergency management. The Adjutant General is responsible for developing a comprehensive, all-hazard emergency plan for the state that includes an analysis of natural, technological, or human-caused hazards, and procedures to coordinate local and state resources in responding to such hazards. In the event of a disaster beyond local control, the Governor, through the Adjutant General, may assume operational control over all or any part of emergency management functions in the state.

In the Governor's directive 13-02, Governor Inslee required that in order for state executive branch organizations to provide essential functions and services during an emergency or disaster that it is essential that each individual agency, board, commission, and council develop a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) for their organization. The COOP plan of each agency must not only ensure its ability to deliver essential functions and services to the citizens of the state during any disaster or emergency, but agencies must coordinate actions to ensure that essential functions that overlap with other agencies continue without interruption.

Summary of Bill:

The Adjutant General is responsible to the Governor for helping to develop and manage a program for interagency coordination and prioritization of continuity of operations planning by state agencies. Each state agency must develop a COOP that is updated and exercised annually in compliance with the program for interagency coordination of continuity of operation planning.

"Continuity of operations planning" is the internal effort of an organization to assure that the capability exists to continue essential functions and services in response to a comprehensive array of potential emergencies or disasters.

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 (Public Safety):

(In support) This bill puts the Adjutant General in charge of getting state agencies to come up with COOP plans. This bill has wide support from a variety of sources and is common sense legislation that has very little cost to the state and greatly enhances the state's preparedness in case of a disaster.

Both Governor Gregoire and Governor Inslee issued directives for state agencies to develop COOP plans. The COOP plans are important to ensure essential services are delivered to citizens in the event of an emergency or disaster. Many citizens rely on important government services and it is vital that these services are not interrupted during a statewide emergency.

This bill defines COOP and requires state agencies to develop COOP plans and to annually test those plans and update them. One full-time employee will be needed to coordinate the COOP program and to provide technical assistance to agencies.

(Opposed) None.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Appropriations):

(In support) There has been wide and multi-agency support for this bill, which passed quickly with unanimous support in House and Senate policy committees. Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) is critical to ensure essential services from state agencies are delivered to citizens in the event of an emergency or a disaster. Continuity of Operations Planning is not currently defined or addressed in any statute. The bill requires state agencies to develop a COOP plan and annually exercise and update the plans.

Both Governor Gregoire and Governor Inslee issued a Governor's Directive requiring state agencies to create a plan. Putting the directive into state law will extend the COOP Directive to all state agencies, including the offices of elected officials. The bill will also ensure the COOP planning will extend over time.

The fiscal impact is one full-time equivalent employee within the Military Department to coordinate the program and provide technical assistance to agencies and is included in the Governor's proposed budget. The coordinator will focus on the interdependencies and central services requiring more than one agency to deliver services. This bill does not have a local impact.

King County has gone through a similar process and has implemented a COOP plan for every department. King County now has alignment on a standards-based approach to emergency management, which serves the people of King County and the people in the state.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying (Public Safety): Representative Goodman, prime sponsor; Bret Daugherty, Washington Military Department; and Barnaby Dow, Washington State Emergency Managers Association.

Persons Testifying (Appropriations): Peter Antolin, Emergency Management Division, Washington Military Department; and Barnaby Dow, Washington Emergency Management Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Public Safety): None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Appropriations): None.