FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1105

C 3 L 15

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Making 2015 supplemental operating appropriations.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Hunter, Ormsby, Sullivan and Gregerson; by request of Governor Inslee).

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

The state government operates on a fiscal biennium that begins on July 1 of each odd-numbered year. A two-year biennial operating budget is adopted every odd-numbered year. Supplemental budgets frequently are enacted in each of the following two years after adoption of the biennial budget. Appropriations are made in the biennial and supplemental budgets for the operation of state government and its various agencies and institutions, including higher education, as well as allocations for the funding of K-12 public schools.

The 2013-15 Biennial Operating Budget was enacted in 2013 and a supplemental operating budget was adopted in 2014. The 2013-15 Biennial Operating Budget, after the 2014 supplemental, appropriates $33.8 billion from the State Near General Fund (State General Fund and the Education Legacy Trust Account) plus the Opportunity Pathways Account. The total budgeted amount, which includes state, federal, and other funds, is $67.6 billion.

Under the state Constitution, 1 percent of general state revenues is deposited into the Budget Stabilization Account (BSA) each fiscal year, as is extraordinary revenue growth. The Legislature may appropriate from the BSA by a constitutional (simple) majority of each chamber of the Legislature if: (1) forecasted state employment growth for a fiscal year is less than 1 percent; (2) the Governor declares an emergency resulting from a catastrophic event; or (3) the balance in the account exceeds 10 percent of general state revenues for the fiscal year, but only for the portion that exceeds 10 percent of general state revenues and only for educational construction. Other appropriations require a three-fifths affirmative vote by each chamber of the Legislature.

Summary:

Supplemental changes are made to the 2013-15 Biennial Operating Budget relating to funding for fires and disasters, children and family services, mental health services, and the judgment against the state in Rekhter v. Washington Department of Social and Health Services.

State Near General Fund plus Opportunity Pathways appropriations for the 2013-15 biennium are increased by $66.2 million. In addition, $77.2 million is appropriated from the BSA for fires and other disasters, including mobilization, response, and recovery. The total budget is increased by $217.9 million.

The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council must produce a revenue forecast in February 2015 instead of March 2015.

Votes on Final Passage: