Better Government

The Senate has passed seven of nine bills in a sweeping package of reforms to make government more efficient and effective.

The reforms affect land-use hearing boards, economic development, political appointments, the availability of vaccines, boards and commissions, and fiscal notes.

"It always makes sense to make sure our taxpayer dollars are used wisely, but in today’s economic climate the need is greater than ever,” said Sen. Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup, who sponsored two of the bills. “These bills will streamline state government, save money and improve services."

Two of the reforms focus on jobs and economic development:

• Senate Bill 6515 streamlines the programs under the Department of Commerce and narrows the agency’s focus to mostly economic goals and away from social programs more logically addressed by other agencies. Sponsored by Kastama, the bill passed on a 45-3 vote.
• SB 6805 reduces overhead costs and ensures that the state Economic Development Commission has the independence it needs to make collect information and pursue strategies in the state’s best interest. Also sponsored by Kastama, this bill passed 48-0.

Three other reforms eliminate, suspend or consolidate redundant boards and commissions:

• SB 6426 saves money by eliminating 39 boards and commissions, suspending 50 boards and commissions until July 1, 2012, and consolidating three boards and commissions into others. Sponsored by Sen. Margarita Prentice, D-Renton, the bill passed 46-3.
• SB 6422 would eliminate bureaucracy and improves service by reducing five environmental and land-use hearings boards to two. Sponsored by Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park, the bill awaits action on the Senate floor.
• SB 6214 saves money and resources by combining the three regional Growth Management Hearings Boards into a single seven-member board. Sponsored by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, the bill passed 47-0.

“Each of these boards and commissions was created for a reason and made sense at the time, but over time those needs change,” Haugen said. “These changes make the best use of our limited resources and save taxpayer dollars.”
Other bills trigger the following reforms:

• SB 6263 reduces costs while ensuring access to vital immunizations and vaccines for all children in the state. Sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, the bill passed 45-2.
• SB 6683 saves money by implementing the electronic transmission of renewal notices for licenses, registrations and permits by July 1, 2012. Sponsored by Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, the bill awaits action on the Senate floor.
• SB 6688 establishes rules for filling vacancies in nonpartisan elective offices, eliminating confusion and inconsistency. Also sponsored by Fairley, the bill passed 37-12.
• SB 6374 requires fiscal notes to include the positive economic impacts of bills, such as how many jobs a measure would create or how much economic development it would generate. Sponsored by Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, the bill passed 46-0.