SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6094

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 of January 9, 2018

Title: An act relating to state general obligation bonds and related accounts.

Brief Description: Concerning state general obligation bonds and related accounts.

Sponsors: Senators Frockt, Mullet, Keiser and Saldaña; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 1/11/18.

Brief Summary of Bill

Authorizes the State Finance Committee (Committee) to issue up to $2,945,011,000 in general obligation bonds to finance projects in the 2017-19 Capital Budget, and to pay issuance and bond sale expenses.
Deletes prior bond authorizations.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Staff: Richard Ramsey (786-7412)

Background: The Committee, composed of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the state treasurer, is responsible for supervising and controlling the issuance of all state bonds. The Committee periodically issues general obligation bonds to finance projects authorized in the capital budget. No bonds may be authorized for sale without prior legislative appropriation of the net proceeds.

General obligation bonds pledge the full faith, credit, and taxing power of the state toward payment of debt service. Funding to pay for principal and interest on those bonds is appropriated from the state General Fund in the operating budget. When debt service payments are due, the state treasurer withdraws the amounts necessary to make the payments and deposits them into bond retirement funds.

A bond bill authorizes the Committee to issue general obligation bonds up to a specific amount to finance many of the projects in the capital budget. It specifies the amount of bonds to be issued, the account or accounts into which bond sale proceeds are to be deposited, and identifies sources and timing of debt service payments. Legislation authorizing the issuance of bonds requires a 60 percent majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Summary of Bill: The Committee is authorized to issue up to $2,945,011,000 in state general obligation bonds to finance projects in the 2017-19 Capital Budget and to pay expenses incurred in the issuance and sale of the bonds. Proceeds from the sale of the bonds must be deposited into the State Building Construction Account. The state treasurer must withdraw from general state revenues the amounts necessary to make the principal and interest payments on the bonds and must deposit these amounts into the Debt Limit General Fund Bond Retirement Account.

Bond authority in statute, for which there is no more appropriation authority, are repealed. These include:

chapter 14, Laws of 1989 1st ex sess.—1989-91 Biennium;
chapter 18, Laws of 2003 1st sp sess.—Gardener-Evans;
section 101, chapter 167, Laws of 2006—Correctional Facilities; and
section 301, chapter 167, Laws of 2006—Hood Canal aquatic rehabilitation program.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: Please refer to the January 11, 2018, recording of the public hearing on the Senate AV Capture All website at http://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/Pages/avcaaudio.aspx.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Brian Sims, WSSDA.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.