5048-S.E AMH BUYS JOND 134

ESSB 5048 - H AMD TO H AMD (H-2540.1/17) 347

By Representative Buys

NOT ADOPTED 03/31/2017

    On page 315, after line 9, insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 980.  STATE EMPLOYEE TRAVEL TO SEATTLE. (1) State agencies of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches shall not make expenditures for the cost or reimbursement of state employees travel to Seattle where the travel is not related to an emergency or other catastrophic event that requires government action to protect life or public safety, or direct service delivery, and the travel occurs after the effective date of this section and before the earlier of July 1, 2019, or the return to full operating capacity at the West Point wastewater treatment plant in King County.

    (2) This section also does not apply to costs related to carrying out a court order.

    (3) Exceptions to the restrictions in subsection (1) of this section may be granted for the critically necessary work of an agency as provided in this section.

    (4) For agencies of the executive branch, the exceptions shall be subject to approval by the director of financial management or the director's designee. For agencies of the judicial branch, the exceptions shall be subject to approval of the chief justice of the supreme court. For the house of representatives and the senate, the exceptions shall be subject to approval of the chief clerk of the house of representatives and the secretary of the senate, respectively, under the direction of the senate committee on facilities and operations and the executive rules committee of the house of representatives. For other legislative agencies, the exceptions shall be subject to approval of both the chief clerk of the house of representatives and the secretary of the senate under the direction of the senate committee on facilities and operations and the executive rules committee of the house of representatives.

    (5) Exceptions approved under subsection (4) of this section shall take effect no sooner than five business days following notification of the chair and ranking minority member of the ways and means committees in the house of representatives and the senate. The person approving exceptions under subsection (3) of this section shall send the exceptions to the legislature for consideration every thirty days from the effective date of this section, or earlier should volume or circumstances so necessitate.

    (6) Exceptions approved and taking effect under this section shall be published electronically at least quarterly by the office of financial management on the state fiscal web site.

    (7) This section does not apply to agricultural commodity commissions and boards, and agricultural inspection programs operated by the department of agriculture."

    Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

EFFECT:   Prevents state agency travel expenditures or reimbursements for travel to Seattle until either the West Point wastewater treatment plant returns to full operation or the 2017-19 biennium ends. Makes the prohibition subject to the approval of agency leadership, and creates exceptions, such as emergencies and court orders.

FISCAL IMPACT: No net change to appropriated levels.

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