Item

Governor's Proposal

Explanation/Comments

Law and Justice MVET Replacement Funding

Funds for calendar 2003, which would have been sent in July for 2003 are eliminated. (-$25.2 million).

The elimination of funding is not accompanied by any repeal of requirements or any replacement revenue sources. The Governor has said he will sign any county revenue bills that come to his desk.

Public Health MVET Replacement Funds

Public Health funding will be eliminated effective January 1, 2003 (-$18 mil). This means that Public Health will receive one more check (for six months) in July 2002.

The elimination of funding is not accompanied by any repeal of requirements or any replacement revenue sources. The Governor has said he will sign any county revenue bills that come to his desk.

Pension Rates

The employer rates for PERS drop by 0.84 percent. The employee rates for PERS 2 drop to zero. The employee contribution rates for PERS 1 remain unchanged. These rate reductions are a result of changes in actuarial method.

WSAC is obtaining more information on this proposal will send information to members.

Public Safety & Education Account (PSEA)

Declining revenues projected by the Forecast Council for the PSEA require expenditure reductions in order to balance this account. A 3.68 percent reduction is imposed on all non-judicial agencies with PSEA appropriations.

This account, funded by fines and fees, contributes to numerous programs that impact both state and local government. Many of the cuts noted below are at least partially due to PSEA reductions.

Drug Courts (federal pass-thru Byrne funds)

Although the previous line-item proviso from federal Byrne Grant is eliminated, the budget includes the full amount ($0.991 mil) as part of lump sum Byrne funding, with expenditure authority to be exercised by the Byrne Grant Advisory Committee. Also included in this lump-sum approach are current local government grants for multi-jurisdictional narcotics task forces.

Drug Courts (state assistance)

Although the previous line-item proviso is eliminated, the budget intends to include DASA funding for adult and juvenile drug courts that have exhausted eligibility for federal Byrne funds ($1.083 mil).

It is unclear at this time whether this amount will be reduced due to decreased PSEA revenues.

Indigent Defense

Continues state pilot program to fund indigent defense in dependency/termination cases in Pierce and Benton-Franklin judicial districts ($0.600 mil)

WSP Crime Labs

Increased funding (+$1.885 mil. GF-S and +$0.885 other funds)

This is half of the level requested by WAPA, FIC and WASPC.

E-911 Equipment Reserve Program

As per recommendation of state E-911 Advisory Committee, establishes a 911 equipment reserve program in counties by granting one-time funding to eligible counties (+$3.9 mil).

From the E-911 account, funded by the state's 20 cent per month tax on landline phones.

E-911 Network Upgrade

As per recommendation of state E-911 Advisory Committee, funds recurring and non-recurring costs to upgrade 911 network to transfer calls from one PSAP to another within the state ($0.907 mil).

From the E-911 account, funded by the state's 20 cent per month tax on landline phones.

State Department of Corrections-Burglary Sentences

Single score for burglary 2, residential burglary: Effective July 2002, when calculating the effect of prior non-violent burglary, (burglary 2 or residential burglary), convictions in sentencing, each prior conviction will count as one conviction instead of two on the sentencing grid (-$ 0.264 mil)

Currently after the sEcond conviction an offender would be sent to DOC. This proposal would keep a recidivist offender in the local jail cycle until a fifth burglary 2 offense or third residential burglary offense.

DOC, con't - Drug Sentences

Effective July 2002, offenders sentenced to prison for property or drug offenses will be eligible for a maximum 50% reduction in sentence length based upon early release, rather than the current maximum reduction of 33%. Offenders sentenced for the manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and offenders with serious violent offenses or sex offenses would not be eligible for the 50% early release change (-$0.351 mil).

Sheriffs and prosecutors believe that additional early release from DOC will simply mean these offenders are back out re-offending sooner and burdening county jails. However, if the 50 percent "good time" provision is allowed for DOC sentences it likely will also be allowed for local jail sentences.

DOC, con't - Drug Sentences pt. 2

Effective July 2002, the manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to deliver heroin or cocaine will be reduced from Seriousness Level 8 to Seriousness Level 7 on the adult felony sentencing grid. Additionally, when calculating the conviction effect of prior drug offense convictions, each prior conviction will count as one instead of three. Manufacture of methamphetamine offenses will not be eligible for this sentencing change (-0.100 mil)

Under a similar proposal last year the savings would have been reinvested in drug courts and drug treatment in local jails. No such "reinvestment" is proposed here. This current sentencing reduction is proposed only to help balance the state budget.

DOC, con't - Elimination of LFO Supervision

DOC assists in monitoring and collection of court-ordered Legal Financial Obligations (LFO) from offenders in the community. Currently, the Department collects these LFO's for the counties. The collection services the Department provides include issuing offenders' monthly billing statements; receiving the dollars; then distributing the dollars to counties (-$1.039mil)

Counties might be under pressure to take over this function, either in-house or by contract. The funds collected are paid toward victim restitution as well as local court costs and fines. A decline in collections would hurt county budgets.

DOC, con't Elimination of Supervision of Level F Offenders

The department supervises offenders, sentenced in superior court, who reside in the community. The Department will no longer supervise the lowest Risk-Management Level D (low risk) offenders with the exception of Drug Offenders Sentencing Alternative offenders (-$1.185 mil).

DOC, con't - Eliminate State Funding for Pre-Sentence Investigation

DOC will no longer conduct Pre-Sentence Investigations (PSI) used by judges to help determine an offender's sentence (-$0.502 mil).

If judges order these investigations, they would be at local expense under this proposal.

DSHS (General)

Across the board delay of two months from July 1 to September 1, 2002 in vendor rate increases. Secretary has also asked for and received the elimination of most budget provisos allowing him additional flexibility in making decisions. This includes such items as drug courts, mental health funding formula, requirements for aging to work with mental health to divert clients from the state mental hospitals. The impact of the deletion of these provisos is undetermined as yet. Across the board cut of 3.68% is made to PSEA expenditures.

Children's Administration

1. Eliminate Family Policy Council and Community Networks(-$1.259 GF-S), (-$2.104 GF-F). 2. Eliminates Secure Crisis Residential Centers (-$4.700). 3. Eliminates Continuum of Care/Alternative Response Services (-$2.883 GF-S), (-$0.037 GF-F). 4. Reduction of 25% to therapeutic child development services (-$2.000). 5. Reduction of Family REconciliation Services (-$1.686).

Loss of Secure CRC's could impact local juvenile detention facilities where co-located. Loss of Continuum of Care and Alternative Response Systems, along with reduction of therapeutic child development and family rEconciliation services will impact county substance abuse services.

Juvenile Rehabilitation

1. Eliminates requirement to file truancy petitions under Becca Law but retains CHINS and ARY petitions (-$3.441 GF-S), (-$1.059 GF-F).

Mental Health

1.RSN reduction of 3% through reduction in services and administrative costs (-$4.642 GF-S), (-$4.658 GF-F). 2. Eliminates prevalence and longitudinal studies (-$.288 GF-S), (-$.288 GF-F). 3. Expand local match option for RSNs to obtain additional federal funding ($13.478 GF-F). 4. Expand forensic capability at Eastern State Hospital ($2.440 GF-S ), ($1.088 GF-F). 5. Eliminates Atypical pilot, Children's Special Inpatient Contracts and Clozaril Spenddown (-$1.887 GF-S), (-$0.012 GF-F). 6. Eliminates 55 - 60 beds at PALS (-$1.094 GF-S), (-$1.094 GF-F)

PALS reduction in addition to 120 beds downsized at WSH in original 2001-2003 budget. No community funds provided for PALS clients.

Special Commitment Center

1. Eliminates reimbursement to counties for civil commitment proceedings for sexually violent predators effective July 1, 2002 ((-$4.300). 2. Reduces mitigation funds and staffing for the Secure Community Transition Facility on McNeil (-$1.977).

Developmental Disabilities

1. Voluntary placement parent pay ($-.720). 2. ARC lawsuit tentative settlement ($14.342). 3. Increased daily rate for persons with public safety issues ($381 GF-S), ($384 GF-F)

Funds in the ARC settlement may increase county day and employment programs.

Aging and Adult Services

1. Nursing rate reduction (-$34.707 GF-S), (-$34.500 GF-F). 2. Increased funding to AAA's for case management at 85 cases per manager ($2.193 GF-S), ($2.630 GF-F). 3. Increase licensing fees for adult family homes and nursing homes (-$8.994).

Economic Services Administration

1. Eliminate state SSI supplement for certain disabled, blind and elderly (-$30.900).

Alcohol and Substance Abuse

1. Reduction to funds from VRDE (-$1.200). 2. Eliminates Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) program (-$3.454). 3. Eliminates appropriation for gravely disabled/methamphetamine (-$2.800). 4. Reduces 24% of Recovery House beds on July 1, 2002 (-$1.021)

Reduction of Recovery House beds coincides with possible closure of the King county-owned and run Cedar Hills treatment facility.

Medical Assistance

1. Caseload increases ($41.464 GF-S), ($724.633 GF-F). 2. Vendor rate increases for physicians and ambulance providers ($28.189 GF-F). 3. Increased discount on wholesale price of drugs (-$35.445 GF-S), (-$35.574 GF-F)

Vocational Rehabilitation

Eliminates the Extended Support Services program which provides shelter workshop for 92 clients who will turn to county day and employment programs (-$.327)

There is no accompanying increase in day and employment programs tied to these clients.

Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development - Office of Community Development

1. Additional funding for low income housing including farmworker housing - maintenance and operating ($1.356 capital funds). 2. Cut to PSEA of 3.68 %. 3. Community Connections program in Walla Walla not cut.

I-773 Tobacco Plan Enhancement - DOH

Increase spending for implementation of tobacco prevention and control plan ($8,745 mil) to bring the total appropriation to the level required in I-773.

I-773 requires an appropriation of no less than $26,240,000 each fiscal year starting with FY 2003.

Increase Federal Grant Authority for Department of Health

Increase federal grant authority ($1,467 mil) due to six new federal grants and awards for two existing grants which were greater than anticipated.

The six new grants are: Washington Integrated Services Enhancement for Children with Special Health Care Needs, Improving Contact Investigation of TB in Foreign-Born Populations, State Nutrition and Physical Activity Program to Prevent Obesity, Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, PH Laboratory Biomonitoring Planning, & National Comprehensive Cancer Control.

Infant-Friendly Certification - DOH

Reduces GF-S ($-0.083mil)

Eliminates the certification function from the new law that allows an employer to use the designation of "infant-friendly" if it develops workplace policies supportive of women who breastfeed their babies.

Child Product Safety Campaign - DOH

Reduces GF-S (-$0.065 mil)

New law passed in 2001. Eliminates state funding for campaign and promotional activities. Parent awareness of unsafe products may be assumed by other organizations such as hospitals, childcare, and pediatricians, whose primary function is to serve children.

Farmer's Market Nutrition Program - DOH

Reduces GF-S (-$0.263 mil) and Other funds (-$0.608 mil)

Discontinues the program that provides additional vouchers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers' markets to low-income families in the Women, Infants and Children Program.

Northwest Family Center - DOH

Reduces GF-S (-$0.174 mil)

Eliminates state funding to the Northwest Family Center (NWFC). NWFC provides services to HIV/AIDS positive women, children and their families. Services include medical care, case management, prevention and risk reduction, outreach, and dependency counseling.

AIDSNET Funding Reduction - DOH

Reduces GF-S (-$1 mil)

Reduces funding to the six regional AIDSNET. AIDSNETs contracts with counties to conduct education program for the general public, provide outreach and prevention activities targeted to high risk populations, and coordinate care and case management to affected individuals.

Basic Health Enrollment Expansion - Health Care Authority

Increases Other Funds expenditures ($14.9 mil)

With revenue generated by I-773, Basic Health Plan enrollment will expand from 125,000 to 145,000 by the end of the biennium, beginning in January 2003. Outreach application screening will commence in the summer of 2002.

Maternity Support Services - DSHS

Fund shift from GF-S (-$8.6 mil) to Other Funds ($8.6 mil)

Maternity Support Services (MSS) are preventive health services for pregnant/post-pregnancy women which include a needs assessment, education, and intervention or counseling provided by an interdisciplinary team comprised of a community health nurse, a nutritionist, and a psycho-social worker. I-773 provides $5 million each in FY 2003 and FY 2004 for programs that address illnesses that disproportionately affect low-income persons. The MSS program is transferred from the GF to the Health Services Account, using $5 million of the new revenue from I-773 as well as a $3.6 million fund transfer.

Alternative Response System - DSHS

Reduces GF-S (-$1.157 mil)

Eliminates the Alternative Response Services (ARS) which consists of contracted programs provided by Public Health Nurses or other social services agencies that handle moderately low and low risk CPS referrals.

Early Intervention Program - DSHS

Reduces GF-S (-$1.091 mil) and Other Revenues (-$0.710 mil)

Eliminates the Early Intervention Program, a voluntary in-home nursing service.

Alternatives to Outdoor Burning - DOE

Increases Other Funds expenditures ($0.3 mil) from existing funding balance in Air Pollution Control Account.

Ecology has been involved in ongoing litigation regarding the public health impacts associated with cereal grain burning. Ecology is required to complete a health assessment to better quantify human health impacts, improve ambient monitoring and smoke management, and carry out other tasks outlined in a recent settlement agreement. These are one-time activities.

Septic Management Strategy - DOE

Increases Other Funds expenditures ($0.175 mil) from one-time fund balance in Biosolids Permit Account.

The management and disposal of waste from septic tanks has become increasingly more difficult and time consuming for Ecology. In order to address this problem in a comprehensive fashion, Ecology will create a stakeholder advisory committee to develop a statewide septic strategy. The strategy will address septic permit requirements, changes to existing rules, clarification of state and local responsibilities, technical assistance needs, and fee structure changes that are necessary to support the program in future biennia.

Local Toxics Control Account - DOE Capital Budget

Increases Appropriation from Local Toxics Control Account ($13.5 mil).

A portion of the increase supports emergency clean-up action on Port of Ridgefield owned property to protect public health and environment without jeopardizing the port's financial standing. $8.2 million will be transferred to the Water Quality Account to support a fund shift from the GF-S for Watershed Grants to the Water Quality Account.

CERB Increase

Office of Trade and Economic Development proposes an increase in the CERB loan program with $8.3 million funds from Public Works Trust Fund interest and anticipated transportation funds.

Elimination of Rural Opportunity Fund

Office of Trade and Economic Development proposes reducing Rural Opportunity Fund (ROF) passthrough (-$0.1mil.) in FY 2002 and its elimination (-$0.320 mil.) in FY 2003. The ROF was part of Governor Locke's 1998 Rural Economic Vitality Initiative.

Hatchery Closures

Department of Fish and Wildlife proposes closing McAllister, Naselle and Sol Duc hatcheries.

Forest Development Account Reduction

DNR reduces appropriation to Forest Development Account (-$3 mil.)

May reduce county revenue from DNR Trust lands.

Ecology Fund Shifts

Ecology proposes to shift $8.2 million in watershed planning grants from General Fund to Water Quality Account. Reduces grant funds. (-$0.8 mil.).

The fund shift is made possible by first shifting money from the Local Toxics Account to the Water Quality Account, reducing funds for hazardous waste cleanup.

Columbia Gorge

Office of Community Development eliminates guaranteed assistance (-$0.205 mil) for Columbia Gorge Scenic Area implementation.

Surface Mining

DNR proposes a reduction (-$0.133 mil) in surface mining compliance.

Ecology Water Law Reform

Ecology proposes to add $0.750 mil. for water law reform.

Regional Water Initiatives

Ecology proposes taking $0.640 mil. from the Water Quality Account for two regional water initiatives in the Central Puget Sound and the Columbia-Snake mainstem.

Reduces money available for water quality improvements.

Agriculture Spartina Funding

Department of Agriculture proposes reducing funds to fight spartina (-$160 mil.)

Reduced Rescue Tug Coverage

Ecology proposes limiting Neah Bay Rescue Tug Services to 200 days (-$0.148) and eliminating (-$0.200 mil.) emergency (preventative) tug contracting in Puget Sound.

Secretary of State

An appropriation is provided for the microfilm security project (+$0.560 mil., but no FTEs) and records management training and grant are added for local governments (+$0.163 mil.)

State Auditor

The Governor proposes that total audit charges to state and local government will be reduced by 5%.