HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5197

BYSenate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Pullen, Talmadge, Nelson, Rasmussen and Warnke; by request of Governor)

Broadening the definition of executive state officer.

House Committe on State Government

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Anderson, Vice Chair; McLean, Ranking Republican Member; Hankins, R. King, O'Brien, Rector and Silver.

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 12, 1989

BACKGROUND:

In 1976, the state's public disclosure laws were amended to require executive state officers to file statements of financial affairs with the Public Disclosure Commission each year.

The definition of "executive state officer" includes many agency heads, professional staff members of the office of the governor, professional staff of the legislature, and appointed members of executive boards, commissions, and committees which have major financial or regulatory control.

SUMMARY:

The definition of "executive state officer" under the public disclosure laws is expanded for the purposes of filing a yearly statement of financial affairs with the Public Disclosure Commission.

The new definition includes:

            oTwelve agency directors, who are appointed by the Governor, and who were not specifically listed in the original definition, but who already file with the commission.  Additional agency heads are added, including those of agencies created since the enactment of the disclosure provisions for agency administrators in 1976, such as the heads of the Lottery Commission, the State Investment Board, and the Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises.

            oMembers of several boards, commissions, and committees created since 1976, such as the State Convention and Trade Center, the Washington Public Power Supply System Executive Board, and the Washington Health Care Facilities Board.

            oMembers of certain boards, commissions, and committees whose members have control over regulatory policy or have financial responsibilities, such as the Shorelines Hearing Board, the Hospital Commission, and the Oil and Gas Conservation Committee.

The members of the above boards, commissions and committees who were appointed to their positions prior to the effective date of this bill are exempt from filing a statement of financial affairs until they are reappointed to those positions.

Fiscal Note:      No Impact.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Fred Hellberg, Office of Financial Management; Graham Johnson, Public Disclosure Commission; and Chuck Sauvage, Common Cause.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The bill is an important step toward establishing equity in the application of the disclosure requirements for executive officers.  It also adds commissions and agencies to the disclosure list which have been created since this matter was last addressed by Referendum Bill No. 36 in 1976.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.