HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1382

BYRepresentatives Hankins, H. Sommers and Silver

Providing for sunset review and termination dates.

House Committe on State Government

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (8)

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

House Staff:Ken Conte (786-7135)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT JANUARY 19, 1988

BACKGROUND:

During the 1985, 1986, and 1987 Legislative sessions, a large number of statutory boards, commissions, advisory committees, and task forces were created.  In many cases, the statutes creating these entities also scheduled automatic termination or sunset review dates.  However, in a number of cases, termination or sunset review dates were not established and, as a result, the newly created entities will continue to exist as statutory committees for an indefinite period of time.

The entities created during the last three Legislative sessions for which no termination or sunset review dates exist are as follows:

Ground Water Management Advisory Committees - Effective May 1985, these committees, established by sub-area, assist the Department of Ecology in the development of ground water management programs.  Committees are appointed by Department.

Migratory Waterfowl Art Committee - Effective May 1985, this Committee is responsible for selecting annual migratory waterfowl stamp designs, creating and selling collector art prints and related artwork, and reviewing Wildlife Department's expenditures of receipts from stamps, prints, and artwork.  The Committee consists of nine members; one member appointed by Governor, six members appointed by the Director of Wildlife, one member appointed by the Chair of the State Arts Commission, and one member appointed by the Director of the Department of Agriculture.

Public Works Board - Effective June 1985, the Public Works Board awards low-interest loans to local governments for public works projects, pledges money to finance local public works, and provides a method for the allocation of loans or financing guarantees.  The Board consists of thirteen members appointed by the Governor.

Washington State Development Loan Fund Committee - Effective July 1985, this Committee approves applications from local governments for federal community development block grants. The Committee consists of seven members appointed by Director of Department of Community Development.

Washington State Economic Development Board - Effective July, 1985, the Board is to create a long-term economic development strategy for the state.  In addition to developing the initial economic development plan, the Board is to revise the plan and report to the Legislature annually.  The Board consists of twenty-five members, most of whom are appointed by Governor. Members who are legislators are appointed by their respective caucuses.

Committee to study water supply availability in the Columbia Basin area - Effective April 1986, this Committee is to study the availability of water in the Columbia Basin and other Columbia Basin irrigation issues.  Members are appointed by Director of Agriculture.

Department of Natural Resources Recreation Advisory Committee - Effective June 30, 1986, this Committee is to provide advice to the Department of Natural Resources regarding outdoor recreation needs and the effect of proposed DNR actions on recreational opportunities.  The Committee is established by DNR.

Land Bank Advisory Committee - Effective June 1986, this Committee is to advise the Department of General Administration on the establishment of the Washington Land Bank and to submit a progress report to the Legislature by January 1, 1987.

The Committee consists of nine members as follows:  two Senate members appointed by the President of the Senate, two House members appointed by the Speaker of the House, the Director of Agriculture or designee, one member appointed by the Director of GA, two members appointed by the Director of Agriculture, and the Director of GA.

State Fire Protection Policy Board - Effective April 1986. this Board advises the Department of Community Development on fire service matters, nominates the Director of Fire Protection, adopts fire service plans, and performs numerous other functions. The Board consists of ten members appointed by the Governor.

Wood Stove Advisory Committee - Effective July 1987, this Committee assist the Department of Ecology in setting fees on sales of wood stoves, designing an education program, and developing wood stove regulations.  The Committee is established by DOE and rules are to be adopted by January 1, 1988.

Employee Ownership Advisory Panel - Effective July 1987, this Panel assists the Department of Community Development in establishing an employee ownership program.  Members are appointed by the Director of the Department of Community Development.

Winter Recreation Commission - Effective May 1987, this Commission is to promote winter recreation.  The Commission consists of thirteen members appointed by the Legislature and the Governor.  It's predecessor committee of the same name went out of existence January 1, 1987.

Grain Indemnity Fund Advisory Committee - Effective May 1987, this Committee advises the Department of Agriculture on assessments, administration, and payment of claims for the Grain Indemnity Fund.  The Committee consists of six members appointed by Governor.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The following entities are scheduled for termination on the dates shown:

            oLand Bank Advisory Committee - June 30, 1988

            oWood Stove Advisory Committee - June 30, 1988

            oGroundwater Management Advisory Committees - June 30,1995

            oEmployee Ownership Advisory Panel - June 30, 1993

            oDepartment of Natural Resources Recreation Advisory Committee - June 30, 1991

            oCommittee to Study Water Supply Availability in the Columbia Basin Area - June 30, 1994

            oWinter Recreation Commission - June 30, 1994 (the Commission and its powers and duties are terminated).

            oWashington State Development Loan Fund Committee - June 30,1994 (the Committee's duties are transferred to the Department of Community Development).

            oGrain Indemnity Fund Advisory Committee - June 30, 1995

SCHEDULED SUNSET REVIEW

The following entities and their powers and duties are scheduled for sunset review on the dates shown:

            oPublic Works Board - June 30, 1993

            oWashington State Economic Development Board - June 30, 1993

            oMigratory Waterfowl Art Committee - June 30, 1994

            oState Fire Protection Policy Board - June 30, 1996

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The Public Works Board, the Washington State Economic Development Board, and the Migratory Waterfowl Art Committee are scheduled for sunset review rather than termination.  The Groundwater Management Advisory Committees are scheduled to terminate on June 30, 1995 rather than June 30, 1993.  The Employee Ownership Advisory Panel is scheduled to terminate on June 30, 1993 rather than June 30, 1990.  The State Medal of Merit Committee is removed from the bill.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

Effective Date:Sections of the bill take effect on different dates.  See Summary.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (on specific sections of original bill) Park Colbert, Washington State Sportsmen's Council; Rich Poelker, Department of Wildlife; Hedia Adelsman, Department of Ecology; Stan Finkelstein, Association of Washington Cities; Duke Schaub, Associated General Contractors; Joe Daniels, Washington Association of Water/Waste-Water Districts; Pete Butkus, Department of Community Development; and Jean Ameluxen, Department of Community Development.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (on specific sections of original bill) The Migratory Waterfowl Art Committee is an integral part of a new, money-generating program.  It provides a service that should be performed outside state government and it should not be terminated.  A sunset review of the committee would be preferable to outright termination.  The Groundwater Management Advisory Committees provide the broad representation essential to developing a workable management plan.  They should not be terminated.  The Public Works Board provides an objective mechanism for allocating large sums of money.  The demand for these funds always far exceeds the availability of funds.  The Board is sensitive to the needs of local governments.  It should not be terminated -- if anything, a sunset review might be appropriate.  (Staff note:  The substitute bill responded substantially to the testimony.  See "Substitute Bill Compared to Original" paragraph above.)