SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5950
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Ways & Means, February 21, 2024
Title: An act relating to fiscal matters.
Brief Description: Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.
Sponsors: Senators Robinson, Nobles and Trudeau; by request of Office of Financial Management.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 1/09/24, 2/19/24, 2/21/24 [DPS, DNP, w/oRec].
Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill
  • Makes supplemental operating budget appropriations for the 2023-2025 biennium.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5950 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Robinson, Chair; Mullet, Vice Chair, Capital; Nguyen, Vice Chair, Operating; Wilson, L., Ranking Member, Operating; Gildon, Assistant Ranking Member, Operating; Rivers, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Billig, Boehnke, Braun, Conway, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Muzzall, Pedersen, Randall, Saldaña, Van De Wege and Wellman.
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senator Schoesler, Ranking Member, Capital.
Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.
Signed by Senators Torres and Wagoner.
Staff: Samuel Brown (786-7470)
Background:

The operating expenses of state government and its agencies and programs are funded on a biennial basis by an omnibus operating budget adopted by the Legislature in odd-numbered years.  In subsequent legislative sessions, a supplemental budget is adopted, making various modifications to agency appropriations.  State operating expenses are paid from the state general fund and from various dedicated funds and accounts.
Summary of Bill:

The bill as referred to committee not considered.
Summary of Bill (First Substitute):

The 2023-2025 biennial operating budget appropriations for the various agencies and programs of the state are modified.
EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE (First Substitute):

Various appropriations and provisos were modified.
Appropriation: The bill modifies appropriations from various accounts.
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 on Original Bill (January 9, 2024):

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard.  Please refer to the January 9, 2024 recording of the public hearing on the Senate Ways & Means Committee Schedules, Agendas & Documents website at https://app.leg.wa.gov/committeeschedules/#//WM/////year.
Persons Testifying (January 9, 2024):

K-12 Public Schools.  PRO:  Melissa  Gombosky, AESD; Larry Delaney, Washington Education Association; Tyler Muench, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Ramona Hattendorf, The Arc of King County; Andrew Villeneuve, Northwest Progressive Institute; Marissa  Rathbone, Washington State School Directors' Association.


OTHER:  Nancy Chamberlain, Washington State PTA; Jeanne Willard, Everett Public Schools; Vicki Wolvert, Union High School/Evergreen School District; Kia Franklin, Stand for Children WA; Samantha Fogg, Seattle Council PTSA Immediate Past President; Mitch Denning, Alliance of Educational Associations; Bob Cooper, National Association of Social Workers WA Chapter; Henterson Carlisle, Center for High School Success.


Higher Education.  PRO:  Morgan Hickel, University of Washington; Joel Anderson, Washington Student Achievement Council; Stephanie Winner, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Sandy Kaiser, The Evergreen State College; David Buri, Eastern Washington University.


OTHER:  Steve DuPont, Central Washington University; Chris Mulick, Washington State University; Nora Selander, Western Washington University.


Early Learning.  PRO:  Cathy Murahashi, The Arc of Washington.


OTHER:  Melissa Johnson, Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP; Pauli Owen; Kristin Wiggins, Perigee Fund / P5RHS; Maya Hemachandra, United Way of Snohomish County; Emily Murphy, Child Care Aware of Washington; Logan Endres, BrightSpark Early Learning.


Employee Compensation.  PRO:  Clair Olivers, Retired Public Employees Council of WA.


OTHER:  Peter Diedrick, WA State School Retirees' Association.


Mental Health.  PRO:  Anna  Nepomuceno, NAMI Washington; Rashi Gupta, UW Medicine; Joan Miller, WA Council for Behavioral Health; Shannon Dorsey; Katie Kolan, Unite Us and Kooth; Cameron Long, Evergreen Treatment Services; Chloe Gale, Evergreen Treatment Services.


OTHER:  Jim Polo, WA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Heidi Suarez.


Human Services.  PRO:  Jim Theofelis, NorthStar Advocates; Brad Forbes, Alzheimer's Association; Cathy Knight, WA Association of Area Agencies on Aging (W4A); Aaron Czyzewski, Food Lifeline.


CON:  Aaron Dickson, Community Employment Alliance; Nikki Wegner, Community Employment Alliance; Blake Duarte.


OTHER:  Zack Wester; Nikki Storms; Jill  May, Washington Association for Children and Families; Julie  Brown, YMCA Social Impact Center; Charles Smith, The Mockingbird Society; Samuel Martin, Washington Coalition on Homeless Youth Advocacy; Melissa Johnson, Community Residential Services Association; Laurie Lippold, Partners for Our Children; Alyssa Odegaard, LeadingAge Washington; Laura Dow, Kinship Navigator Program; Demas Nesterenko, SEIU775; Tammi Elswick, Heritage House Morton; Michelle Dube, Beehive Retirement Center; Sandy Lennon, Washington School-Based Health Alliance; Carolyn Driscoll, The Sequoia Assisted Living Community; Leslie Emerick, Home Care Association of Washington (HCAW); Michele Thomas, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance; Nathan Daniel; Teri Bryant; Jeff Guyett, Community Action Council of Whitman County; Anthony Ives, Kitsap Community Resources; Galina Volchkova, Volunteers of America Western Washington; Stacy Kellogg, People for People; Nicole Gomez, Washington Federation of State Employees; Noah Seidel, Office of Developmental Disabilities Ombuds.


Natural Resources.  PRO:  Graham Taylor, NPCA; John Floberg, Washington State Parks Foundation.


OTHER:  Carly Michiels, Washington Public Ports Association.


All Other.  PRO:  Christopher Stanley, Administrative Office of the Courts; Larry Jefferson, Director, Washington State Office of Public Defense; Melissa Johnson, District & Municipal Court Judges Association; John Seng, Spark Northwest; Sara Robbins, Office of Civil Legal Aid; Candice Bock, Association of Washington Cities; Steve Hobbs, Office of Secretary of State; Cindy Arends Elsberry, WA Defender Assn/WA Assn of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Daniel Poppe; Megan Larkin, Climate Solutions; Preston Parish, Washington State Budget and Policy Center.


CON:  John Worthington.


OTHER:  Michael White, King County; Mike Fancher, Washington Coalition for Open Government.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (January 9, 2024): No one.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Proposed Substitute (February 19, 2024):

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. Please refer to the February 19, 2024 recording of the public hearing on the Senate Ways & Means Committee Schedules, Agendas & Documents website at https://app.leg.wa.gov/committeeschedules/#//WM/////year.  
Persons Testifying (February 19, 2024):

K-12 Public Schools:  PRO:  Henterson Carlisle, Center for High School Success; Liz Trautman, Stand for Children Washington; Charlie Brown, South Sound Superintendents and WA Skills Centers; Lynette Brower, Washington State Skills Centers Association; James Everett, Meridian School District; Paula Sardinas, FMS Global Strategies/WBBA.

OTHER:  Larry Delaney, Washington Education Association; Melissa Gombosky, Association of Educational Service Districts; Angela Steck, President, Washington State PTA; Tyler Muench, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Kate Vafaeezadeh, Cascade High School; Marissa Rathbone, Washington State School Directors' Association; Ramona Hattendorf, The Arc of King County; Rick Chisa, Public School Employees of WA/SEIU 1948; Roz Thompson, Association of Washington School Principals; Samantha Fogg, SCPTSA, Interim Co-President; Mitch Denning, Alliance of Educational Associations.

Higher Education:  PRO:  Morgan Hickel, University of Washington; Paul  Francis, SBCTC; Dr. Ivan Harrell, President, Tacoma Community College; Sandy Kaiser, The Evergreen State College; Steve DuPont, Central Washington University; Collin Bannister, The Washington Student Association.

CON:  Chris Mulick, Washington State University.

OTHER:  Maud Daudon, Career Connect Washington; Tathagata Pal, Legislative Liaison, WSU Graduate and Professional Student Association; David Buri, Eastern Washington University; Nora Selander, Western Washington University; Michael Cheever, College Success Foundation; Joanna Grist, Hazardous Waste Management Program of Seattle King County; Stephen Bollens, WSU Faculty Representative to the State Legislature.

Early Learning:  OTHER:  Mica Slater, BrightSpark Early Learning Services; Melissa Johnson, Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP; Aida Rodriguez, The Imagine Institute; Hannah Pick, Child Care Provider.

Employee Comensation: CON:  Alan Burke, WSSRA.

OTHER:  Clair Olivers, Retired Public Employees Council of WA.

Mental Health:  PRO:  Ian Goodhew, UW Medicine; Suzy Diaz, Yakima Valley Partners for Education.

OTHER:  Jim Theofelis, NorthStar Advocates; Mary Kirchoff, Wonderland Child and Family Services; Trish Toole, Washington Occupational Therapy Association; Heidi Suarez, WA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Lelach Rave, WA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Katie Kolan, Kooth.

Human Services:  PRO:  Michael White, King County; Brad Forbes, Alzheimer's Association; Melanie Smith, WA State Long Term Care Ombuds Program; Michael Moran, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation 2. Chehalis Tribe 3. Making A Difference Foundation; Claire Lane, Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition; Aaron Czyzewski, Food Lifeline; Jamie Wheeler, Northwest Harvest; Kati Durkin, Washington Federation of State Employees; Diana Stadden; Kenny Pittman, Catholic Community Services of Western WA.

OTHER:  Laurie Lippold, Partners for Our Children; Erika Bartlett, Tacoma-Pierce County Public Health; Karen Pillar, TeamChild; Melissa Johnson, Community Residential Services Association; Charles Smith, The Mockingbird Society; Samuel Martin, Washington Coalition for Homeless Youth Advocacy; Alyssa Odegaard, LeadingAge Washington; Alejandra Perdomo-Menera, Cherrywood Place Assisted Living; Aaron Dickson, Community Employment Alliance; Lance Morehouse; Blake Duarte; Tammy Bowen; John Lemus; Cathy Knight, WA Association of Area Agencies on Aging; Ramona Hattendorf, The Arc of King County; Leslie  Emerick, Home Care Association of WA; Linzi Michel, The Cambridge Assisted Living; Demas Nesterenko, SEIU775; Briahna Murray, City of Tacoma; Nick Federici, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance; Em Stone, WA State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; John Ficker, Adult Family Home Council; Shawn Latham, Self Advocates In Leadership; Cathy Murahashi, The Arc of Washington; Nora Briggs, The Dollywood Foundation; Galina Volchkova, Volunteers of America; Shelly Willis, Kinship Care; Linda Garcia, Washington State Community Action Partnership; Anthony Ives, Kitsap Community Resources; Brooke Fisher-Clark, United Ways of the Pacific Northwest; Chloe Gale, Evergreen Treatment Services; Catherine Morrison, Maxim Healthcare Services; Neil Olson, Crisis Connections; Brad Banks, Home Care Coalition; Erica  Drury, MGA Homecare.

Natural Resources:  PRO:  Trish Rolfe, Center for Law and Policy; Andrea Pierantozzi, Recreational Boating Assoc of Washington.

OTHER:  Mike Ennis, Washington State Farm Bureau; Tom Salzer, WA Association of Conservation Districts; Jasmine Vasavada, Coalition for Organic and Regenerative Agriculture.

All Other:  PRO:  Candice Bock, Association of Washington Cities; Sophia McSherry, Deputy Director, Office of Public Defense; Christopher Stanley, Administrative Office of the Courts; Mark Streuli, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades - DC 5; Christopher Ellis, Bricklayer and Allied Craftworkers Local #1; Paula Sardinas, WBBA (WA Build Back Black Alliance); Russell Brown, WA Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.

CON:  Sara Robbins, Director, Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid; John Worthington; CHARLES FEICK.

OTHER:  AyeNay Abye, The Tubman Center for Health and Freedom; Jason Grillo, PACCLEAN; Edgar Franks, Familas Unidas Por La Justicia; Sasha Wasserstrom, WA Immigrant Solidarity Network; Soumyo Lahiri-Gupta, OneAmerica; connie grindol, Independent Nurses; Robbi Anderson, Independent Nurses; Gloria Triebenbach, Independent Nurses; Hanahn Korman, Washington Assn of Nurse Delegators and other ALTSA-Contracted Nurses; Jennifer Gerber, Client with independent nurses; Ali Romaine; Sean Graham, Washington State Medical Association; David Lord, Retired disability advocate; Paul Tabayoyon, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of Yakima; Ali Lee; Shay Stokes, The Energy Project; Nancy Haberman, Independent Nurse; Bill Clarke, WA PUD Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (February 19, 2024):

All Other:  PRO:  Rachael Southern.

CON:  Shellie Reed; Beth Ensley; Jeannette Mcchesney; Carmelinda Wiley; Stephanie Porcella.

OTHER: Syrah Kettlety.