HOUSE BILL NO. 233 "An Act extending until 1999 the termination date of the Board of Clinical Social Work Examiners, Board of Marital and Family Therapy, State Medical Board, Board of Nursing, Board of Nursing Home Administrators, Board of Psychologist and Psychological Associate Examiners, Real Estate Commission, and Hazardous Substance Spill Technology Review Council; extending until 1996 the termination date of the Board of Marine Pilots and the Correctional Industries Commission; and providing for an effective date." CATHERINE REARDON, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING spoke in support of HB 233. She noted that the Division has jurisdiction over seven of the eleven boards and commissions contained in the legislation. She pointed out that the fiscal note reflects the costs of the boards and commissions and the licensing activities under them. The fiscal note does not reflect an increase of cost. She emphasized that the licensing fees are directed by statute to cover the costs of licensing activities. When costs increase the fees are adjusted upward. Program receipts and expenditures are balanced. She stressed that the sunset audits recommended longer extensions than those included in the legislation. She noted that the Division of Legislative Budget and Audit suggested that longer extensions would save auditing money. Representative Grussendorf noted that the Division of 10 Legislative Budget and Audit's recommendation for extensions to the year 2004 was only accepted for the Real Estate Commission. The other boards and commissions were only extended to 1994. Ms. Reardon noted that the House Labor and Commerce Committee changed the extension date of the Real Estate Commission. DARREL JOHNSON, DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES spoke in support of HB 233. He testified in support of the Special Eduction Service Agencies. He stressed that sunset of the Special Education Service Agency would impair families' ability to gain the support they need for special needs children and young adults. Representative Therriault provided members with Amendment 1 (Attachment 5). The amendment would eliminate the extension of the Hazardous Substance Spill Technology Review Council. Representative Therriault MOVED to adopt Amendment 1. He stated that the amendment reflects action taken in the operating budget. Representative Brown referred to a letter by Gary Thomas, Director, Prince William Sound Science Center (copy on file). Mr. Thomas stated that projects sponsored in part by the Council have had joint sponsorship by industry, federal and state agencies, public groups, and universities. She spoke in support of extending the Council. Representative Therriault clarified that the Council was budgeted at $100.0 thousand dollars in FY 95. The Council was funded at $420.0 thousand dollars in FY 93. Representative Brown questioned the position of the Department of Environmental Conservation. Representative Therriault noted that it was the intent of the House Finance Subcommittee on the Department of Environmental Conservation to allow the sunset to go ahead. A roll call vote was taken on the MOTION to adopt Amendment 1. IN FAVOR: Kelly, Kohring, Martin, Mulder, Therriault, Hanley OPPOSED: Brown, Grussendorf, Navarre Representatives Parnell and Foster were absent from the vote. The MOTION PASSED (6-3). 11 Representative Brown asked why the Board of Storage Tank Assistance was recommended for extension. ROD MOURANT, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE KOTT noted that the legislation was based on recommendations by the Office of the Governor and the Division of Legislative Budget and Audit. He stated that some boards were added by the House Labor and Commerce Committee due to administrative oversight. Representative Brown asked the basis for distinction of sunset dates. Mr. Mourant could not answer. Representative Grussendorf noted that Mr. Mourant testified that the legislation was based on recommendations by the Division of Legislative Budget and Audit. However, those recommendations were only accepted for the Real Estate Board. Representative Martin noted that the Division of Legislative Budget and Audit tried to decrease the annual audit of boards and commissions by extending some organizations to five or ten years. Representative Brown noted that the Board of Storage Tank Assistance was not contained in the audit. HB 233 was HELD in Committee for further discussion.