Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Local Government Committee |
HB 2602
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Establishing a joint select committee on junior taxing districts.
Sponsors: Representatives Eddy, Springer, Takko, Carlyle and Tharinger.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/25/12
Staff: Ann Koepke (786-7291), Ethan Moreno (786-7386).
Background:
Special purpose districts are political subdivisions of the state and come into existence, acquire legal rights and duties, and are dissolved as provided for in statute. Special purpose districts are authorized by statute to provide a single function, or limited number of functions, separate from the general purpose local government. Junior taxing districts are a type of special purpose district and include, among others, fire districts, library districts, metropolitan park districts, and flood control districts. In terms of comparison, a senior taxing district means the state (as it relates to the support of common schools), a county, a county road district, a city, or a town.
Summary of Bill:
House Bill 2602 establishes a joint select committee (committee) on junior taxing districts. The term "junior taxing district" includes all taxing districts other than the state, counties, road districts, cities, towns and school districts. Provisions for the establishment and operation of the committee are specified as follows.
Membership: Committee membership is provided for as follows:
each legislative leader of the two largest political parties of the Legislature will appoint one voting member;
the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate will jointly appoint two nonvoting members; and
the Governor will appoint one voting member.
Appointments are to be made by July 1, 2012.
The committee will choose its chair from among its legislative membership. The initial meeting of the committee will be convened by the appointee from the majority caucus of the House of Representatives.
Purpose and responsibilities: The committee is responsible for reviewing junior taxing districts and evaluating their provided services in order to make recommendations regarding their appropriateness for consolidation into a general purpose local government, such as a city or county. As part of the committee's review and recommendation process, it is to seek relevant information and advice from the following entities and individuals:
organizations representing counties, cities, and junior taxing districts;
counties, cities, and junior taxing districts;
the Department of Revenue;
the State Auditor; and
the Office of the Attorney General.
The committee is required to report their findings and recommendations, in the form of draft legislation, to the Governor and to the Ways and Means committees of the House of Representatives and Senate (or their successor committees). The committee must submit its findings and recommendations by December 31, 2014.
Operations: The committee is to receive staff support from Senate Committee Services and the House of Representatives Office of Program Research. Legislative and non-legislative members of the committee, except those representing an employer or organization, are required to be reimbursed for travel expenses.
The expenses of the committee are to be paid jointly by the Senate and the House of Representatives and are subject to approval by the appropriate Senate or House committee.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.