HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1633

BYHouse Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Appelwick and Sanders)

Exempting contracts for neighborhood improvement projects from bidding and prevailing wage requirements.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Beck, Bumgarner, Butterfield, Dorn, Ferguson, Hine, Jones, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Rayburn and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (7867127)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 16, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Various local governments are authorized to provide park and recreation facilities, including cities, towns, counties, metropolitan park districts, park and recreation districts, and park and recreation service areas.

Many local governments are required to award contracts for public works projects through an open, competitive, sealed bidding procedure, if the value of the project exceeds a certain value.

SUMMARY:

Cities, towns, metropolitan park districts, school districts, park and recreation districts, and park and recreation service areas are authorized to contract with service groups to make various park and recreation improvements, or to maintain such facilities, without conforming with competitive bidding requirements if the value of the improvements or maintenance is at least three times the value of any consideration that is paid.  Volunteers may be used.

Annual contractual payments for such projects cannot exceed the greater of $25,000 or $2 per resident of the local government.

These local governments can ratify an agreement concerning this type of neighborhood project that was made on or after January 1, 1988.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  Permits counties to enter into these types of contracts with service groups for park and recreation improvements and maintenance.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Appelwick, Prime Sponsor; and Stan Finkelstein, Association of Washington Cities.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Bob Dilger, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This allows neighborhood volunteer projects, such as done by little leagues and scouting organizations.  This is particularly important for smaller communities.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None presented against substitute bill.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 97; Excused 1

Excused:    Representative Smith C