HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1306

                      As Passed House:

                        March 5, 1999

Title:  An act relating to costs incurred by cities in implementing 1998 legislation dealing with drunk driving.

Brief Description:  Implementing 1998 legislation dealing with drunk driving.

Sponsors:  Representatives Huff, H. Sommers and Benson.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Appropriations:  2/16/99, 2/22/99 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/5/99, 95-0.

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Modifies the distribution formula used to reimburse cities for the impact of DUI legislation so that all cities, not just "high crime" cities, receive a reimbursement.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 31 members:  Representatives Huff, Republican Co-Chair; H. Sommers, Democratic Co-Chair; Alexander, Republican Vice Chair; Doumit, Democratic Vice Chair; D. Schmidt, Republican Vice Chair; Barlean; Benson; Boldt; Carlson; Clements; Cody; Crouse; Gombosky; Grant; Kagi; Keiser; Kenney; Kessler; Linville; Lisk; Mastin; McIntire; McMorris; Mulliken; Parlette; Regala; Rockefeller; Ruderman; Sullivan; Tokuda and Wensman.

Staff:  Dave Johnson (786-7154).

Background:

In 1998, the Legislature passed several bills that changed the laws relating to driving under the influence (DUI).  The majority of these bills took effect January 1, 1999.  These bills were estimated to have a cumulative impact of $1.2 million on local government in the 1997-1999 biennium.

As part of the 1998 supplemental budget, a total of $1.2 million was appropriated for distribution to local governments to reimburse cities and counties for their costs of implementing the DUI legislation passed in 1998.  Of that amount, $480,000 was provided for cities and $720,000 was provided for counties.  One half of the funds were distributed in January 1999, and the remaining half of the funds will be distributed in April 1999.

The reimbursement formula used for distributing this money to cities only distributes funding to cities whose crime rate is at least 125 percent of the statewide average.

Summary of Bill:

The April 1999 distribution of the 1998 appropriation is changed.  The January and April distributions, taken together, are based upon population, not on crime rate.  No city will receive less, in total, than it did in its January distribution.  There is no net fiscal impact -- only the distribution is modified.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  None.