BILL REQ. #:  S-1816.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/24/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to studying the economic impact of state facilities on local governments; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   Concerns have been raised that the state hospitals and other facilities that draw users from across the state present local government, including local law enforcement, with a burden of unreimbursed costs as a result of their presence in the jurisdiction. It has been proposed that the state pay for the ongoing costs to the local government.
     The legislature finds that no review has been done that addresses both positive and negative fiscal impacts of state facilities on local governments in this state, nor has this state reviewed the practices of other states with regard to reimbursement of local government for statewide facilities. The legislature further finds that it would be inappropriate to address this matter in a piecemeal manner.
     The legislature intends to review the economic impacts of state facilities on local government.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The joint legislative audit and review committee shall review the issue of the economic impacts of state facilities on local government. The committee, in its review, shall consider, but not be limited to, the following factors: Evaluation of economic benefits of state facilities on local economies and governments; evaluation of economic costs of state facilities on local economies and governments; comparison of costs and benefits from these facilities on local economies and governments; and evaluation of a method to measure such costs and benefits on an ongoing basis. The committee should consider such impacts from state hospitals, state correctional facilities, and state juvenile correctional institutions on local governments and economies. In carrying out this review, the committee may consider developing a sample of both facilities and local communities in assessing these impacts, but should be attentive to regional differences within the state. As part of its review, the committee may also assess comparable information from other states regarding the allocation of excess costs between state and local governments for the extraordinary impacts of state facilities. The committee shall provide a final report on this review by December 1, 2004, to the appropriate legislative committees.