HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1515

BYRepresentatives H. Sommers,  B. Williams, Silver, Holland, Brekke, Fuhrman, J. Williams and May; by request of Legislative Budget Committee

Modifying the termination dates of various state agencies.

House Committe on State Government

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (9)

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

House Staff:Ken Conte (786-7135)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 15, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Legislative Budget Committee (LBC) was created by the legislature to study and examine state agencies and programs with regard to economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.  In carrying out these responsibilities, the LBC conducts management surveys and program reviews, receives program performance reports from state agencies, and has the power to make reports to the legislature and public concerning any of its findings or recommendations.

Between 1988 and 1996, the LBC will be required by statute to complete 41 audits or reviews, most of which are required by Sunset legislation.  However, the pending workload is not evenly distributed by year.  For example, the LBC has 10 pending reports due in 1988 and only 4 due in 1990.  For a Sunset review, the preliminary LBC report is due one year before the agency is scheduled to terminate.

In addition, agencies which deal with similar issues are not necessarily scheduled for review in the same year, and several of the programs either have recently been reviewed by the LBC or have only been in operation for a short time.

SUMMARY:

The sunset termination dates for the following commissions, boards and programs are postponed to the dates shown:

            oAsian-American Affairs Commission - June 30, 1996

            oHuman Rights Commission - June 30, 1996

            oCareer Executive Program - June 30, 1993

            oNursing Home Advisory Council - June 30, 1991

            oEmergency Medical Services Committee - June 30, 1991

            oCenter for International Trade in Forest Products - June 30, 1992

            oInternational Marketing Program for Agricultural Commodities and Trade - June 30, 1992

            oExamining Board of Psychology - June 30, 1994

The sunset provision for the Public Disclosure Commission is repealed.

The State Lottery's termination date of July 1, 1992 and the LBC study provision for the agency are repealed.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  The sections repealing the sunset review requirements for the Public Disclosure Commission and the lottery are deleted from the bill.  Therefore, the Public Disclosure Commission and the state lottery will remain scheduled for sunset review on June 30, 1992 and July 1, 1992, respectively.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Fred Hellberg, Governor's Office.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This bill provides a more realistic schedule for reviews and gives a more evenly distributed workload for both LBC and OFM.  To group like agencies together also makes logical sense.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 87; Nays 9; Excused 2

Voting Nay: Representatives Barnes, Brekke, Hargrove, Heavey, Padden, Patrick, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Sanders

Excused:    Representatives Smith C, Vekich