H-2742.2

HOUSE BILL 2401

ByRepresentatives Berg, Stearns, Valdez, Leavitt, Parshley, Zahn, Richards, Scott, Paul, Ramel, Fey, Pollet, Macri, Nance, Reed, Timmons, Reeves, Bernbaum, Walen, and Hall

AN ACT Relating to establishing the boys and men commission; reenacting and amending RCW 43.79A.040 and 43.79A.040; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; providing an effective date; providing an expiration date; and providing contingent expiration dates.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

The legislature further finds that the development of public policy and the efficient delivery of governmental services to meet the needs of boys and men can be improved by establishing a focal point in state government focused on the well-being of men and boys. This includes but is not limited to increasing pathways to work and education, increasing mental health support, and addressing the pervasive crisis of loneliness.

Therefore, the legislature deems it necessary to establish in statute the boys and men commission to further these purposes. The boys and men commission shall address issues relevant to the problems and needs of boys and men including improving mental health outcomes, reducing stigma around mental health treatment, and expanding access to meaningful education, vocational, and mentorship opportunities. The boys and men commission shall place an emphasis on addressing the challenges faced by boys and men of color, those in rural locations, those who identify as LGBTQ, and those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and often find themselves left out of important conversations regarding their well-being and future.

(2) By June 30, 2026, the office of financial management must:

(a) Identify the amounts, by fiscal year, necessary to fully fund the operating costs of the boys and men commission from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2029; and

(b) Notify the governor, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, the secretary of the senate, the state treasurer, the office of the code reviser, and other interested parties of these amounts.

(3) Prior to the establishment of the boys and men commission, the office of financial management or its designee must seek and receive gifts, grants, and other contributions from nonstate sources to carry out the provisions of subsection (1) of this section. Any amounts received for this purpose must be individually tracked by the office of financial management and deposited into the boys and men commission account.

(4) This section expires upon the office of financial management receiving gifts, grants, or other nonstate contributions in an amount sufficient to fully fund the boys and men commission's operational costs through December 31, 2029, and providing notice in accordance with section 10 of this act that such condition has been met, or on January 1, 2030, whichever occurs later.

(2)(a) The boys and men commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the governor, with at least one member being a tribal chair, board member, councilmember, or enrolled member from a federally recognized Indian tribe.

(b) The governor shall consider nominations for membership based upon maintaining a balanced and diverse distribution of ethnic, geographic, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, and occupational representation, where practicable. The majority of members shall self-identify as male to maintain sufficient representation of individuals with direct lived experience on the boys and men commission.

(3) All boys and men commission members shall serve at the pleasure of the governor, but in no case may any member serve more than three years without formal reappointment by the governor. All legislative advisory members shall serve for a two-year term and the position of any legislative advisory member shall be deemed vacated whenever such member ceases to be a member of the house from which the member was appointed. Of the persons initially appointed by the governor to the boys and men commission, three shall be appointed to serve one year, three to serve two years, and three to serve three years. Upon expiration of such terms, subsequent appointments shall be for three years. Any vacancies occurring in the membership of the boys and men commission shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointments.

(4) Two members of the senate, one from each of the two major political parties, appointed by the president of the senate, and two members of the house of representatives, one from each of the two major political parties, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, shall serve as advisory members.

(5)(a) Nonlegislative members shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

(b) Legislative members shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with RCW 44.04.120.

(6) A simple majority of the boys and men commission's membership constitutes a quorum for the purpose of conducting business.

(2) The executive director shall:

(a) Employ the staff of the boys and men commission;

(b) Monitor state legislation and advocate for legislation affecting men and boys;

(c) Work with state agencies to assess programs and policies that affect men and boys;

(d) Coordinate with the minority commissions, LGBTQ commission, and women's commission to address issues of mutual concern; and

(e) Work as a liaison between the public and private sector to ensure vocational pathways for men and boys.

(a) Provide a clearinghouse for information regarding both state and federal legislation as it relates to the purpose of this chapter;

(b) Identify and define specific needs of men and boys of color, those in rural locations, those who identify as LGBTQ, and those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, and provide recommendations for addressing those needs in the biennial report to the legislature and governor under (g) of this subsection;

(c) Consult with state agencies regarding the effect of agency policies, procedures, practices, laws, and administrative rules on the unique problems and needs of men and boys. The boys and men commission shall also advise such state agencies on the development and implementation of comprehensive and coordinated policies, plans, and programs focusing on those problems and needs;

(d) Provide resource and referral information to agencies and the public. The boys and men commission may gather data and disseminate information to the public in order to implement the purposes of this chapter;

(e) Hold public hearings to gather input on issues related to the unique problems and needs of men and boys. The boys and men commission must include in the biennial report submitted under (g) of this subsection the input received and recommendations for addressing the problems and needs discussed at the public hearings;

(f) Advocate for policies that increase the sense of belonging and decreases isolation and loneliness in boys and men; and

(g) Submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature and the governor by December 31, 2029, and every two years thereafter detailing the boys and men commission's activities. The report submitted must be in electronic format pursuant to RCW 43.01.036.

(2) State agencies must provide appropriate and reasonable assistance to the boys and men commission as needed, including gathering data and information, in order for the boys and men commission to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(1) Solicit and receive gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources that are made for the use or benefit of the boys and men commission and to expend the same or any income therefrom according to their terms and the purpose of this chapter. Amounts received must be deposited into the boys and men commission account. The boys and men commission's executive director shall make a report of such funds received from private sources to the office of financial management on a regular basis. Amounts received from private sources must supplement and may not supplant amounts appropriated by the legislature, but shall be used for projects and functions authorized by this chapter but not funded by legislative appropriation; and

(2) Adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter.

Sec. 8. RCW 43.79A.040 and 2025 c 399 s 13 and 2025 c 190 s 3 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) Money in the treasurer's trust fund may be deposited, invested, and reinvested by the state treasurer in accordance with RCW 43.84.080 in the same manner and to the same extent as if the money were in the state treasury, and may be commingled with moneys in the state treasury for cash management and cash balance purposes.

(2) All income received from investment of the treasurer's trust fund must be set aside in an account in the treasury trust fund to be known as the investment income account.

(3) The investment income account may be utilized for the payment of purchased banking services on behalf of treasurer's trust funds including, but not limited to, depository, safekeeping, and disbursement functions for the state treasurer or affected state agencies. The investment income account is subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for payments to financial institutions. Payments must occur prior to distribution of earnings set forth in subsection (4) of this section.

(4)(a) Monthly, the state treasurer must distribute the earnings credited to the investment income account to the state general fund except under (b), (c), and (d) of this subsection.

(b) The following accounts and funds must receive their proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance for the period: The 24/7 sobriety account, the Washington promise scholarship account, the Gina Grant Bull memorial legislative page scholarship account, the Rosa Franklin legislative internship program scholarship account, the Washington advanced college tuition payment program account, the Washington college savings program account, the accessible communities account, the Washington achieving a better life experience program account, the Washington career and college pathways innovation challenge program account, the community and technical college innovation account, the agricultural local fund, the American Indian scholarship endowment fund, the behavioral health loan repayment and scholarship program account, the Billy Frank Jr. national statuary hall collection fund, the foster care scholarship endowment fund, the foster care endowed scholarship trust fund, the contract harvesting revolving account, the Washington state combined fund drive account, the county 911 excise tax account, the county road administration board emergency loan account, the toll collection account, the developmental disabilities endowment trust fund, the energy account, the energy facility site evaluation council account, the fair fund, the family and medical leave insurance account, the Fern Lodge maintenance account, the fish and wildlife federal lands revolving account, the natural resources federal lands revolving account, the food animal veterinarian conditional scholarship account, the forest health revolving account, the fruit and vegetable inspection account, the educator conditional scholarship account, the game farm alternative account, the GET ready for math and science scholarship account, the Washington global health technologies and product development account, the grain inspection revolving fund, the Washington history day account, the industrial insurance rainy day fund, the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2 expense fund, the local tourism promotion account, the low-income home rehabilitation account, the medication for people living with HIV rebate revenue account, the homeowner recovery account, the multiagency permitting team account, the northeast Washington wolf-livestock management account, the pollution liability insurance program trust account, the public use general aviation airport loan revolving account, the regional transportation investment district account, the rural rehabilitation account, the Washington sexual assault kit account, the stadium and exhibition center account, the youth athletic facility account, the self-insurance revolving fund, the children's trust fund, the Washington horse racing commission Washington bred owners' bonus fund and breeder awards account, the Washington horse racing commission class C purse fund account, the individual development account program account, the Washington horse racing commission operating account, the life sciences discovery fund, the Washington state library-archives building account, the reduced cigarette ignition propensity account, the center for deaf and hard of hearing youth account, the school for the blind account, the public employees' and retirees' insurance reserve fund, the school employees' benefits board insurance reserve fund, the public employees' and retirees' insurance account, the school employees' insurance account, the long-term services and supports trust account, the radiation perpetual maintenance fund, the Indian health improvement reinvestment account, the department of licensing tuition recovery trust fund, the student achievement council tuition recovery trust fund, the tuition recovery trust fund, the industrial insurance premium refund account, the mobile home park relocation fund, the natural resources deposit fund, the Washington state health insurance pool account, the federal forest revolving account, the Washington saves administrative trust account, the boys and men commission account, and the library operations account.

(c) The following accounts and funds must receive 80 percent of their proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance for the period: The advance right-of-way revolving fund, the advanced environmental mitigation revolving account, the federal narcotics asset forfeitures account, the high occupancy vehicle account, the local rail service assistance account, and the miscellaneous transportation programs account.

(d) Any state agency that has independent authority over accounts or funds not statutorily required to be held in the custody of the state treasurer that deposits funds into a fund or account in the custody of the state treasurer pursuant to an agreement with the office of the state treasurer shall receive its proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance for the period.

(5) In conformance with Article II, section 37 of the state Constitution, no trust accounts or funds shall be allocated earnings without the specific affirmative directive of this section.

Sec. 9. RCW 43.79A.040 and 2025 c 399 s 14 and 2025 c 190 s 4 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) Money in the treasurer's trust fund may be deposited, invested, and reinvested by the state treasurer in accordance with RCW 43.84.080 in the same manner and to the same extent as if the money were in the state treasury, and may be commingled with moneys in the state treasury for cash management and cash balance purposes.

(2) All income received from investment of the treasurer's trust fund must be set aside in an account in the treasury trust fund to be known as the investment income account.

(3) The investment income account may be utilized for the payment of purchased banking services on behalf of treasurer's trust funds including, but not limited to, depository, safekeeping, and disbursement functions for the state treasurer or affected state agencies. The investment income account is subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for payments to financial institutions. Payments must occur prior to distribution of earnings set forth in subsection (4) of this section.

(4)(a) Monthly, the state treasurer must distribute the earnings credited to the investment income account to the state general fund except under (b), (c), and (d) of this subsection.

(b) The following accounts and funds must receive their proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance for the period: The 24/7 sobriety account, the Washington promise scholarship account, the Gina Grant Bull memorial legislative page scholarship account, the Rosa Franklin legislative internship program scholarship account, the Washington advanced college tuition payment program account, the Washington college savings program account, the accessible communities account, the Washington achieving a better life experience program account, the Washington career and college pathways innovation challenge program account, the community and technical college innovation account, the agricultural local fund, the American Indian scholarship endowment fund, the behavioral health loan repayment and scholarship program account, the Billy Frank Jr. national statuary hall collection fund, the foster care scholarship endowment fund, the foster care endowed scholarship trust fund, the contract harvesting revolving account, the Washington state combined fund drive account, the county 911 excise tax account, the county road administration board emergency loan account, the toll collection account, the developmental disabilities endowment trust fund, the energy account, the energy facility site evaluation council account, the fair fund, the family and medical leave insurance account, the Fern Lodge maintenance account, the fish and wildlife federal lands revolving account, the natural resources federal lands revolving account, the food animal veterinarian conditional scholarship account, the forest health revolving account, the fruit and vegetable inspection account, the educator conditional scholarship account, the game farm alternative account, the GET ready for math and science scholarship account, the Washington global health technologies and product development account, the grain inspection revolving fund, the Washington history day account, the industrial insurance rainy day fund, the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2 expense fund, the local tourism promotion account, the low-income home rehabilitation account, the medication for people living with HIV rebate revenue account, the homeowner recovery account, the multiagency permitting team account, the northeast Washington wolf-livestock management account, the public use general aviation airport loan revolving account, the regional transportation investment district account, the rural rehabilitation account, the Washington sexual assault kit account, the stadium and exhibition center account, the youth athletic facility account, the self-insurance revolving fund, the children's trust fund, the Washington horse racing commission Washington bred owners' bonus fund and breeder awards account, the Washington horse racing commission class C purse fund account, the individual development account program account, the Washington horse racing commission operating account, the life sciences discovery fund, the Washington state library-archives building account, the reduced cigarette ignition propensity account, the center for deaf and hard of hearing youth account, the school for the blind account, the public employees' and retirees' insurance reserve fund, the school employees' benefits board insurance reserve fund, the public employees' and retirees' insurance account, the school employees' insurance account, the long-term services and supports trust account, the radiation perpetual maintenance fund, the Indian health improvement reinvestment account, the department of licensing tuition recovery trust fund, the student achievement council tuition recovery trust fund, the tuition recovery trust fund, the industrial insurance premium refund account, the mobile home park relocation fund, the natural resources deposit fund, the Washington state health insurance pool account, the federal forest revolving account, the Washington saves administrative trust account, the boys and men commission account, and the library operations account.

(c) The following accounts and funds must receive 80 percent of their proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance for the period: The advance right-of-way revolving fund, the advanced environmental mitigation revolving account, the federal narcotics asset forfeitures account, the high occupancy vehicle account, the local rail service assistance account, and the miscellaneous transportation programs account.

(d) Any state agency that has independent authority over accounts or funds not statutorily required to be held in the custody of the state treasurer that deposits funds into a fund or account in the custody of the state treasurer pursuant to an agreement with the office of the state treasurer shall receive its proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance for the period.

(5) In conformance with Article II, section 37 of the state Constitution, no trust accounts or funds shall be allocated earnings without the specific affirmative directive of this section.

(2) If the condition under subsection (1) of this section is met on or before December 31, 2029, the office of financial management shall notify affected parties, the governor, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, the secretary of the senate, the office of the code reviser, and others deemed appropriate of the date the condition was met.

(3) If, by January 1, 2030, the condition under subsection (1) of this section has not been met:

(a) The office of financial management shall notify affected parties, the governor, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, the secretary of the senate, the office of the code reviser, and others deemed appropriate that the condition was not met and shall return all nonpublic contributions received prior to that date to the individual or entity making the original contribution; and

(b) Sections 1 through 7 of this act expire.

(4) This section expires upon the conditions under subsections (1) and (2) of this section being met, or on January 1, 2030, whichever occurs later.

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