February 8, 2010
Legislative Bulletin
 
The Latest From Olympia
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In This Issue
County Fiscal Health
Economic Development
Energy & Utilities
General Government
Human Services, Health & Housing
Land Use, Resources & Environment
Public Safety
Transportation & Public Works
WSAC Resources
 
 
Affiliate Resources
 
 
 
Other Resources
 
 
 
WSAC News Corner      
A New Phase
Friday marked a transition point for the Legislature.  All of the policy committees had to pass all of their bills out of committee by then.  All of the fiscal committees must pass out all of the bills that are not necessary to implement the budget by Tuesday February 9th.   Beginning on Wednesday February 10th, floor debate and voting begins.
 
It is very important that you contact your legislators and bill sponsors to share your point of view.  Throughout this bulletin, staff will be making suggestions for you to consider taking action on.  Our collective success depends on our collective effort.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact us if we may be of any help.
 
Thank you for your time, commitment and all you do on behalf of the Counties of Washington State.
 
For the Latest WSAC & Legislative Session Information Visit:  WSAC's Legisaltive & Policy Center
County Fiscal Health
The House and Senate are getting closer to having a bill to send to each other for their consideration.  It is important that your call or e-mail members of the House Finance Committee to vote HB 3179 out of committee and call or e-mail members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee to vote SB 6424 out of committee.
 
We appreciate King County Executive Constantine, Mason County Commissioner
Lynda Ring-Erickson and Grays Harbor Sheriff Mike Whelan testifying in support of the bill.
We need to keep both bills moving so a compromise can be reached during the House and the Senate. The components of each bill are described below.
HB 3179 has the following components:
1.    Public Safety Sales Tax- RCW 82.14.450
·         Allows the local legislative body to impose the 3/10 sales tax until 12/31/2014.  Subject to voter approval to retain the tax .  If the county doesn't act by the end of 2010, the city may impose 1/10 of the 3/10 and the  city must share the tax with the county (85-15).  Removes the non-supplant clause.
2.    Mental Health Sales Tax - RCW 82.14.460
·         Allows the city of Tacoma to impose the tax if Pierce County doesn't impose the tax by 1/1/2011.  Removes the non-supplant language for Tacoma if they impose the tax.
3.    Criminal Justice Sales Tax - RCW 82.14.340
·         Removes the 1989 base year requirement for determining non-supplant requirements.  Deletes the non-supplanting language.  Allows funds to be spent on human services.
4.    Utility Tax for Counties
·         Allows the county legislative authority to impose a utility tax for the entire unincorporated area.  King County may impose the tax on the sale of gas and electricity at 6%.  All the other counties may not impose the tax on gas and electricity is capped at 1%.  Requires a credit for city utilities provided outside their municipal boundaries.
5.    Water and Sewer Districts
·         Allows cities and towns to impose the utility tax on services provided by water and sewer districts within a city.
6.    Real Estate Excise Tax (REET)
·         Harmonizes the 1st and 2nd quarter of the REET until 2014.  Allows the REET to be also used for maintenance and operation of capital facilities, including parks,  acquired by the REET.  If REET is used to for park maintenance they may not use the REET for acquisition.
7.    Brokered Natural Gas
·         Clarifies the cities ability to impose the utility tax on brokered natural gas.
8.    Gambling Tax - RCW 9.46.113
·         Expands the use of the gambling tax proceeds to include public safety
9.    Hotel/Motel tax - RCW 67.28.1815
·         Allows the tax to be used for governmental purposes that will enhance tourism and public safety improvements.
 
PSSB 6424 has the following components:
    1. Public Safety Sales Tax - RCW 82.14.450
      • Allows the local legislative body to impose the 3/10 sales tax until 12/31/2014.  Subject to voter approval to retain the tax .  If the county doesn't act by the end of 2010, the city may impose 1/10 of the 3/10 and the  city must share the tax with the county (85-15).  Removes the non-supplant clause.
    2. Criminal Justice Sales Tax - RCW 82.14.340
      • Removes the 1989 base year requirement for determining non-supplant requirements.  Deletes the non-supplanting language.  Allows funds to be spent on human services.
    3. Gambling Tax -  RCW 9.46.113
      •  
        Expands the use of the gambling tax proceeds to include public safety.
    4.  
      Real Estate Excise Tax (REET)
      • Harmonizes the 1st and 2nd quarter of the REET until 2014.  Allows the REET to be also used for maintenance and operation of capital facilities , including parks, acquired by the REET.
 
Economic Development

Creating community facilities districts (CFD) (SB 6241/HB 2577)

Both bills have passed the policy committees and are now in Rules Committees in their respective chambers. Both bills are substantially different than the underlying bill: CFDs are now defined as an independently governed, special purpose district with the authority to make local public facilities

and infrastructure improvements, rather than as a municipal corporation, taxing authority, and taxing district.

The CFD petitions the legislative body (i.e. a city) for formation. It clarifies the legislative authority's role.  SB 6241/HB 2577 removes the authority for CFDs to form a local improvement district, levy excess property taxes, issue general obligation bonds, or impose impact fees. Land included in a CFD must be in a designated Urban Growth Area. County treasurers may imp ose a fee for collecting special assessments.

 

Modifying the Sales and Use Tax Deferral Program for Investment Projects in Rural Counties (HB 3014/SB 6613 

This Governor's request bill would extend the sunset date of an existing state and local sales tax deferral and waiver program for research and development business investment in rural counties and modify it to apply to only distressed counties until June 30, 2020.

While the fiscal note indicates the bill would have a moderate negative impact on local government sales tax revenue (greater than $50,000 loss per year), the policy is attempting to enhance economic activity in our distressed rural  counties.

 
Energy & Utilities

Small Wind Systems (SHB 2516)

The bill was amended to allow the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) to receive site certification applications for small alternative energy resources (less than 300KW) facilities in counties and municipalities that have not adopted permitting codes for these facilities in the last ten years. Provides that a site certification issued by the EFSEC for a small alternative energy resource facility preempts any local regulation adopted after the issuance of the site certification. Specifies that an interlocal agreement entered into by the EFSEC and any local government for the purposes of permitting small alternative energy resource facilities supersedes the authority of the EFSEC to site these facilities as provided in this act on a case-by-case basis.

 

While these amendments are in improvement to the bill because it acknowledges the prior ordinances adopted at the local level.  Please review the bill and let your Representative know your opinion.

 

The bill is in House Rules

 

Authorizing Energy Conservation Service Utilities (SSB 6656)

This relatively complex bill allows a local government to provide energy conservation services through an existing utility or through a newly created energy conservation services utility. In addition, it sets up financing mechanisms to allow for conservation loans and grants for those served by the utility.

As amended in committee, the bill would only allow for the formation of these energy conservation utilities in cities and towns wholly within the electric service territories of Tacoma Public Utilities, Seattle City Light, and Puget Sound Energy. The bill also specifies that the utilities could only be formed if approved through a public vote.

 

The bill is Senate Rules.

 
Revising the State Energy Strategy (SB 6421) 

Requires the department of commerce to produce a fully updated and revised state energy strategy and implementation report with guidance of an advisory committee appointed by the director.  Local governments are an eligible member of the advisory committee.  The department of commerce is encouraged to seek in-kind and financial support for the process. The bill also prohibits the department of commerce from intervening in any adjudicative proceeding before the utilities and transportation commission, but it may ask permission to provide information relevant to the proceeding.

The bill is in Senate Ways and Means

Impact Payments for Municipally Owned Hydro Facilities (HB 2925)

The bill would require Seattle City Light which owns and operates a electricity generating facilities in another county must provide financial compensation to that county, the municipalities within that county, and local school districts, so as to compensate for the impacts of the generating facility that negatively affect local revenues, public welfare, and/or the school districts.

This bill is Pend Oreille County's request legislation.  They are frustrated with Seattle City Light's negotiation tactics.

The bill is the House Ways and Means Committee.

 
General Government
Election Bills
SB 6689 requires all ballot titles for property tax levies to state whether the levy is new or a replacement and include a comparison of the financial impact from a taxing district's prior year levy, if any, and the current ballot, in both dollar and percentage change terms. Ballot questions for multiple year levies must include an estimate of the financial impact in the first year of the proposed levy as compared to the taxing district's prior year levy, if any, in both dollar and percentage terms. The bill has been referred to Rules Committee.
 
SB 6216 requires a local government ballot proposition of a property tax levy to include the currently existing dollar rate, as of the date the proposition is subject to voter approval, and the amount the proposed levy increase exceeds the currently existing dollar rate. The bill has been referred to the Rules Committee.
 
SB 5631 allows for ballot tabulation of absentee ballots to begin at 8 am on the Monday immediately before the day of the primary or election. The House version requires absentee ballots to be received by the county auditor no later than 8 pm on election day; the Senate version has been amended to remove this requirement.
HB 2495 allows for ballot tabulation to begin at 8 am on the Monday before the primary or election. The bill passed out of committee and has been referred to House Rules.
 
SHB 2496 requires ballots to have a clear delineation between the instructions and where voting is to begin. The bill passed out of committee and has been referred to Rules.
 
HB 1880 removes the requirement that ballot return envelopes have a secrecy flap to conceal the voter's signature and telephone number. The House passed the bill this week, and it has been referred to the Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee.  This is a WACO request bill.
 
SB 5951 removes the requirement that ballot return envelopes have a secrecy flap but requires return envelopes to shield the voter's signature and telephone number. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.
 
SB 6430 removes the requirement that ballot return envelopes have a secrecy flap and makes it optional for return envelopes to shield the voter's signature and telephone number. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.
 

 

Human Services, Health & Housing

Abolishing the Department of Social and Health Services (HB 2197)

HB 2197 would abolish the DSHS by July 1, 2011 and transfer its responsibilities into four smaller agencies, including the Department of Economic Services, Department of Medical Assistance, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, and the Department of Children's Services. This was introduced during the 2009 legislative session. The bill was heard in but did not pass out of this fiscal committee last year.

 

The bill had a hearing in the Health and Human Services Appropriations committee, was added to the executive action schedule at the last minute and passed out of the committee. As the committee deliberated the bill, that has bipartisan support with 33 sponsors, there was quite a bit of focus on recent television reports that have discussed child abuse and a series of negative articles related to the elderly under DSHS care.

 

The bill has been referred to House Ways and Means and has a hearing scheduled on February 8 at 9:00 a.m.

 

Allocating Responsibility for Court-Related Costs of Involuntary Commitment Proceedings (SSB 6733)

The substitute version of SB 6733 creates a task force to review allocation of court-related involuntary commitment costs. The original version would have required a county in which a commitment detention is initiated under the Involuntary Treatment Act to be responsible for court-related costs of an involuntary commitment if the hearing occurs in a different county. Since current practice differs around the state we worked with the committee and sponsor to ensure that all aspects of this issue are studied prior to imposing any statewide solution.

The bill has been passed to the Senate Rules Committee.

 

Concerning Administration of the Medicaid Program (HB 3048/SB 6710)

HB 3048, and the companion bill SB 6710, concerning administration of the Medicaid program, were introduced by request of the Governor.  The legislation proposes transferring administration of the state's Medicaid program, now managed by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), to the Health Care Authority. It continues to be unclear how this proposal will be implemented and any impact on county programs administered by DSHS, including the Regional Support Networks, chemical dependency programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

HB 3048 is scheduled for possible executive action in the House Ways and Means committee on February 8 at 8:00 a.m. The Senate companion, SB 6710, was heard on February 1 in the Senate committee on Health and Long-Term Care but did not pass out of committee prior to cutoff.

 

Relating to Treatment for Behavioral Health Disorders (SSB 6539)

SB 6539 responds to the need in some counties to allow residential facilities to provide treatment to both individuals with substance abuse disorders and individuals with mental health disorders. Current state law and regulation requires approved substance abuse treatment programs to be discrete from other treatment programs.  The substitute version of the bill limits the scope of the bill to crisis facilities, which are defined as certified detoxification, triage, or crisis stabilization programs.

 

This bill has been passed to the Senate Rules committee.

 

Bills Related to the Mental Health System

There are a number of bills addressing issues related to public safety by making changes to the mental health treatment system. We applaud efforts to respond to tragedies in the community but will monitor the proposals to ensure that any changes making it easier to detain individuals in the system are supported with resources to enhance public safety without harming important existing programs in the community.

Detaining Persons with Mental Disorders (SHB 2882)

This substitute bill would change the standards related to emergency custody from presenting an "imminent likelihood of harm" to a "substantial likelihood of harm." It also would require the Department of Social and Health Services to track and review the outcomes of the 72-hour, 14-day, and 90-day detentions as a result of the change in the detention standard and annually report to the Legislature.

 

This bill was heard in the House Ways and Means Committee on February 6 at 9:00.

 

Concerning the Assessment and Treatment of Certain Persons with Mental Illnesses (SHB 2932)

Permits the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to make an application to the court for the conditional release of a person committed to a state hospital facility, includes requirements for community corrections officers related to this release and requires a review of other states' review boards regarding individuals who have been found to be guilty but mentally ill and report on outcomes and recidivism.

 

Executive Action was taken on the substitute bill in the House Committee on Health & Human Services Appropriations on February 4.

 

Concerning the Involuntary Treatment Act (HB 3076/SB 6791)

HB 3076 and companion SB 6791 are at the request of the Governor and would expand the definition of "likelihood of serious harm." The bill also requires a study of mental health assessment tools.

 

The House version is scheduled for executive action in the Ways and Means on February 8 at 9:00 and the SB 6791 has been passed to the Senate Rules committee.



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Land Use, Resources & Environment 
Week five of the session is going to be dominated by floor action.  Because there are very few hearings, it is a very good time to contact your local legislators so that important bills aren't forgotten.  Here are some areas where it would be useful for WSAC members to contact their legislators, whether in Olympia or from your office phone:
 
Restructuring the Growth Management Hearings Boards
 
  • Support SHB 2442 (Simpson - House Rules Committee)
    The House committee included the amendment WSAC was advocating for, which requires that GMHB members have experience in the "practical application" of either land use law or planning.  The House language is currently the preferred language.
    We want to ensure that this bill is approved by the House
  • Support SSB 6214 (Haugen - Senate Rules Committee)
    We support his bill, but it needs to be amended so that it includes the House language (see above)
 
Environmental Hearings Office
These bills (HB 2935/SSB 6422) are requested by the Governor and would move the administrative functions of the Growth Management Hearings Boards into the Environmental Hearings Office as well as provide uniform appeal deadlines across environmental and land use statutes.
 
However, both versions have been amended to keep the Growth Management Act appeal period at 60 days, rather than 30 days like the other appeal periods.  WSAC is advocating that the bills should be amended to align the appeal period for the Growth Management Act to all of the other appeal periods.  Both versions of the bill are in the Rules Committee of their respective chamber.
 
GMA Timelines
SHB 2992/SSB 6611 both provide jurisdictions planning under the Growth Management Act with three additional years to complete the next round of review and updates. 
The House bill contains language that prohibits counties from re-designating any resource lands of long-term commercial significance.  WSAC opposes this language, and prefers the language in the Senate bill.  The House bill is in House Ways & Means, and the Senate bill is in Senate Rules.
 
Forest Practices Conversions
SB 6641 is WSAC request legislation that clarifies language relating to forest practices applications that are leading to conversion of that land to non-forestry uses.  We want to ensure that this bill is approved by the full Senate and sent to the House.  The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.
 
Water Bills
All of the water bills endorsed by the WSAC Legislative Steering Committee have failed to move out of their respective policy committee prior to cutoff and will not likely be acted upon this session.
 
Reducing the Release of Mercury Into the Environment
Support HB 2914 (Hunt) and SB 5543 (Pridemore) both of which require producers of mercury-containing lights sold in or into Washington to participate in a product stewardship program.  Both bills are in the Ways and Means committees, and must be moved out by Tuesday in order to meet cutoff requirements.
 
Storm water Funding
This week bills will be introduced in the House and the Senate to raise the hazardous waste substance tax to help fund local governments comply with the storm water requirements.  The tax rate will increase from 0.7% to 2%.  The increased funds will be shared with the states general fund until July 2015.  The remaining funds will be split between storm water mitigation/prevention activities; retrofit projects; low impact development projects; oil spill and response activities.
Each Phase 1 and Phase 2 jurisdiction will receive $75,000/year for storm water programs.
The bill also provides funding for the state department of transportation to help meet their storm water obligations
   

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Public Safety
Good Bills
 
Failure to Pay/Failure to Appear (SB 6490)
Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee took action on SB 6490 and unanimously passed it out of committee.  However, the excitement was short-lived; the bill was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee.  WSAC staff was expecting the bill to be heading to Senate Ways and Means, which staff believes would have been a more favorable committee.  Please contact Senator Haugen, the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, to let her know you are supportive of SB 6490.  Also, if your District Court Judges or Prosecuting Attorney are supportive of this measure, please have them contact Senator Haugen as well.
 
BACKGROUND: Driving with a License Suspended in the Third Degree (DWLS3) is a misdemeanor.  A person commits DWLS3 by driving a motor vehicle when his/her driver's license is suspended or revoked because of:
 
  • failure to respond to a notice of traffic infraction;
  • failure to appear at a requested hearing;
  • violation of a written promise to appear in court; or
  • failure to comply with the terms of a notice of traffic infraction or citations
 
Senate Bill 6490 removes the Department of Licensing's authority to suspend a license for these reasons, effectively decriminalizing DWLS3.  In Washington, there are approximately 102,000 cases of DWLS3 filed annually, and approximately 45,000 convictions for this offense.  These cases currently represent one third of the cases in courts of limited jurisdiction and filings are on the rise.

This Bill is supported by the WSAC LSC.
 
Enhanced 911 (SB 6846)
SB 6846, which is sponsored by Sen. Brandland, was introduced and heard last week.  We had a very productive hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.  This bill has a fair bit of momentum in the Senate, and staff would not be surprised to see SB 6846 passed out of committee either Monday or Tuesday.
 
BACKGROUND: The current E-911 system, in part, uses 1960s technology and is in need of modernization.   Approximately one-third of the cost of maintaining and operating E-911 is being paid by excise taxes.  The other two-thirds of the cost are paid for out of general taxes paid by local governments.  The excise tax has not been increased since 1992 and costs have gone up significantly since then.  Currently, more and more individuals, specifically those in urban areas are migrating from switch telephone access lines to newer technologies such as voice over internet protocol.
 
The major provisions of SB 6846 include:
 
  • Counties may impose an E-911 excise tax for each switched access lines, radio access lines, and interconnected voice over internet protocol service line, in the amount not exceeding 70 cents per month.
  • Counties imposing a county E-911 excise tax must provide an annual update to the E-911 coordinator detailing the proportion of their county E-911 excise tax that is being spent on: efforts to modernize their existing 911 system; and basic and E-911 operational costs.
  • Counties imposing an E-911 excise tax must contract with the Department of Revenue (Department) for the administration and collection of the tax. 
     
 
 
Public Record
s (
HB 2582/SB 6367 & HB 2583/SB 6368)
HB 2583 was passed out the House General Government Appropriations Committee.  The Chair, Rep. Darneille, was very instrumental in shepherding this bill through her committee.   In addition to the Chair, our friends from the Association of Washington Cities and the Washington Public Ports Association were very instrumental in helping this bill get out of committee. 
2582/6367 both versions of this bill are in the respective Rules Committees of the House and Senate.
 
BACKGROUND:  HB 2582/SB 6367 would allow public records requestors to be directed to an internet address where the responsive records can be found on the agency's website while making provisions for requestors without internet access. The bills were amended to clarify that requestors must be directed to a link to the specific document being requested, not just the responding agency's website. The bills passed out of committee in both the House and Senate this week and are in the Rules committees.
 
HB 2583/SB 6368 would provide for a voluntary conference between the agency and the requestor to clarify the request. If an agency or requestor files a lawsuit based on the request without participating in a conference, the court would have the discretion to reduce any award for costs, including penalties. The House version was amended to clarify that the one-year statute of limitation on filing court actions and the application of daily penalties do not apply to the 15-day period for conference. The House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee passed HB 2583 out of committee this week. The bill has a Department of Corrections fiscal note, which will need to be addressed in the next committee's hearing. We believe these conferences will reduce costs overall, if court conflicts can be avoided
 
Bad Bills
 
Wrongful Injury or Death
(
SB 6508)
This bill is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Ways and Means Committee at 1:30 on Monday, February 8.  This bill would be extremely expensive; it substantially expands the scope of liability in wrongful injury or death causes of action by expanding the number of people who may file a cause of action in a wrongful death case.  Please feel free to inform the members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee that counties cannot afford this policy at this time.
 
BACKGROUND: This bill would substantially expand the scope of liability in wrongful injury or death causes of action by expanding the number of people who may file a cause of action in a wrongful death case, and the damages for which they could seek redress. SB 6508 would expand liability by including a wrongful injury or death cause of action for parents of an adult child when the parents are dependent on the child for financial support or have had significant involvement in the adult child's life.
 
In addition, the scope of damages that could be recovered would be expanded to include non-economic damages. Non-economic damages would be recoverable by the personal representative on behalf of the estate for loss of enjoyment of life and shortened life expectancy, in addition to emotional distress and pain and suffering on behalf of the victim. In 2008 each house passed a version of this bill, but failed to agree on a compromise version in the last hours of the 2008 session.
 
WSAC is extremely concerned about the bill's fiscal impact and will be working in collaboration with local government representatives to actively oppose this bill and limit its scope.
 
Bills of Concern
 
Providing Education Programs for Juveniles in Adult Jails
(
SB 6702/HB 3029)
SB 6702 is being heard in the Senate Ways and Means Committee at 1:30 on Monday, February 8.  As of yet, HB 3029 has not been scheduled in a House budget committee; however detailed agendas for Monday have not been released.  Based on WSAC analysis, local jurisdictions would either be on the hook for substantial capital improvements or risk litigation.  WSAC and staff from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs are working on amendments to submit to both the House and Senate.
 
BACKGROUND: This is OSPI request legislation that arose from a settled lawsuit involving Juveniles incarcerated in the Pierce County Jail.    Although WSAC is supportive of the concept, the bill appears to be rather onerous for jails to implement and could drive significant cost to local government.  The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chief has circulated the bill to jail administrators for comment.
 
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Transportation & Public Works
WSACE Legislative Update:  February 8, 2010
 
Concerning Permits for Major Transportation Corridors (SSB 6366)
 
This bill redefines permit criteria for state highway (mega) projects over $1 B. Approximately nine projects throughout Washington State would meet this threshold. If a major transportation project requires a federal Section 404 Clean Water Act permit, a local critical areas permit is not required, if the subject of the federal permit covers the local critical areas. Critical area ordinance permits may only be required for sensitive environmental areas that fall outside of the area covered under the Section 404 Federal permit.
City street use permits applicable to major transportation projects are presumed approved unless negotiated otherwise within 120 days. City street use permits and critical area permits must be appealed to superior court or through a local hearing examiner or other local process, at the choice of the department. The department may begin a project while a city street use permit is being appealed.
Temporary building permits applicable to major transportation projects may be appealed only by the issuing jurisdiction or the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). If an appeal is filed, a third party may intervene by petition.
Upon receiving a shoreline permit for a major transportation project, WSDOT may begin construction work immediately, and the automatic 21-day waiting period is removed. During any permit appeal period, WSDOT must make every effort to avoid work that could affect the environmentally sensitive area that is the subject of the shoreline permit. If the permit appeal is successful, WSDOT must provide for additional mitigation if the sensitive environmental area has been degraded in any way.
We encourage King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane and Clark counties to review this bill. 
The bill is in Senate Rule
Transportation Benefit Districts (SHB 1591)
The Transportation Benefit District (TBD) authority was modified in 2007 to allow a councilmanic $20 vehicle license fee, eight cities formed TBDs throughout the state, either imposing the $20 vehicle license fee or the sales tax of up to 0.2%.
While working through the TBD implementation process, technical clarifications and the request to enhance the sales tax component of a TBD emerged. SHB 1591 captures these requests and has the following components:
  • Clarifies county and city project and program eligibility.
  • Enables impact fees to be applied to a project not owned by a TBD (i.e. a local TBD partnering on a state facility).
  • Allows voters to extend the sales tax authority beyond ten years if it is for bonding purposes. Under current law, TBDs allow for a voter approved sales tax that sunsets after ten years.
The bill is in House Rules.
 
Transit Agency funding (HB 2855)
 
Temporarily authorizes transit agencies to impose, by majority vote of the transit agency's governing body, an annual vehicle license fee of up to $20.  The fee would sunset in four years.
 
Requires for councilmanic vehicle license fees imposed after July 1, 2010, by transit agencies and transportation benefit districts that have common boundaries, have no more than $20 in councilmanic vehicle license fees may be imposed on any one vehicle registered to owners who reside within the common territory.  This essentially limits the potential fee stacking between a transportation benefit district and a transit agency.
 
Directs the Joint Transportation Committee to convene an advisory panel to consider and propose a statewide blueprint for public transportation services.
 
The bill is in House Transportation Committee.
 
Washington State Association of Counties 
 
Eric Johnson
Executive Director
 
WSAC Policy Staff
Scott Merriman - Deputy Director
Brian Enslow - Policy Director (Public Safety)
 Rashi Gupta - Policy Director (Human Services, Health & Housing)
 Josh Weiss - Policy Director (WSAC General Counsel and Land Use, Resources & Environment)
Brad Banks - Policy Analyst (Legislative Bulletin, LSC & Website)