HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 135

BYRepresentatives H. Sommers,  Hankins, Sayan, Ballard, P. King and Fuhrman;by request of Washington State Library

Changing provisions relating to the Western Library Network.

House Committe on State Government

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (9)

     Signed by Representatives H. Sommers, Chair; Peery, Vice Chair; Baugher, Brooks, Hankins, O'Brien, Sayan, Taylor and Walk.

House Staff:Pam Madson (786-7135)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 6, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In 1976, the legislature authorized the implementation of the Western Library Network Computer System (WLN).  WLN has two major components:  A resource sharing network for libraries, and a multi-state computer service.  WLN operates as a major division of the Washington State Library under the auspices of the Washington State Library Commission.  It is financed through a revolving fund and is self-supporting and nonprofit.

In addition to providing services to user libraries, the WLN has also experienced a successful software leasing program primarily to foreign governments.  This unique function presents a problem for WLN operating as a state agency, in that Washington's Open Public Meeting Act and Constitutional spending restrictions pose obstacles to expanding the competitive aspect of this program.

WLN continues to increase the number of user libraries, adding libraries primarily from outside the State of Washington.

Under present statute, the Data Processing Authority is required to approve WLN's pricing policies.

For several years, discussion has continued over whether WLN should remain as a division of a state agency (Washington State Library) or whether it should take the status of a public nonprofit corporation.  In 1984, the Legislative Budget Committee conducted a sunset review and recommended that WLN change its governance structure to a public nonprofit corporation.  Legislation adopted in 1985 did not make the change in governance but did extend the sunset review to 1987, giving additional time to study a nonprofit corporation structure.

The 1987 LBC sunset review report recommends that efforts continue to achieve a change to a different governance structure.  It further recommends that: (1) WLN be extended indefinitely; (2)  the Data Processing Authority be removed from involvement in setting WLN's user fee policies; (3) discussions by the Library Commission and its advisory bodies of action on WLN pricing, products, equipment, and services that could affect WLN's competitive position be exempted from the state's Open Public Meeting Act; and (4) all key management positions be exempted from civil service.

SUMMARY:

The Western Library Network is continued indefinitely, and nine of its top management positions are exempted from classified civil service.  The Data Processing Authority is no longer required to approve WLN pricing policies.

Consideration of matters concerning equipment, prices, and services of WLN in meetings held by the Library Commission and its advisory bodies is exempt from the Open Public Meetings Act.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  Nine top management exempt positions of the Western Library Network are deleted.  The State Library Commission meetings continue to be subject to the Open Public Meetings Act without exception for WLN pricing, and discussions of products, equipment and services, that might affect the network's ability to compete.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 30, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Nancy Zussy, State Librarian.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Because of its success, the WLN has experienced rapid growth and is widely supported by its user libraries.  The program should be continued in its present form.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Yeas 93; Nays 0; Absent 0; Excused 5

Excused:   Representatives Chandler, Day, Dellwo, Silver and J. Williams