BILL REQ. #:  H-0773.2 

Read first time 01/25/11.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to strengthening off-road vehicle accounts by reducing administrative costs and increasing the distribution of fuel tax revenue to those accounts; amending RCW 46.68.045; reenacting and amending RCW 46.09.520; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.68.045 and 2010 c 161 s 822 are each amended to read as follows:
     The moneys collected by the department for ORV registrations, temporary ORV use permits, decals, and tabs under this chapter and chapter 46.17 RCW must be distributed from time to time, but at least once a year, in the following manner:
     (1) The department shall retain enough money to cover expenses incurred in the administration of this chapter. The amount kept by the department must never exceed ((eighteen)) five percent of fees collected.
     (2) The remaining moneys must be distributed for off-road vehicle recreation facilities by the board in accordance with RCW 46.09.520(2)(d)(ii)(A).

Sec. 2   RCW 46.09.520 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 37 s 936 and 2010 c 161 s 222 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) From time to time, but at least once each year, the state treasurer shall refund from the motor vehicle fund one percent of the motor vehicle fuel tax revenues collected under chapter 82.36 RCW, based on a tax rate of: (a) ((Nineteen cents per gallon of motor vehicle fuel from July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2005; (b) twenty cents per gallon of motor vehicle fuel from July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007; (c) twenty-one cents per gallon of motor vehicle fuel from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2009; (d))) twenty-two cents per gallon of motor vehicle fuel from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2011; and (((e) twenty-three)) (b) thirty-seven and one-half cents per gallon of motor vehicle fuel beginning July 1, 2011, and thereafter, less proper deductions for refunds and costs of collection as provided in RCW 46.68.090.
     (2) The treasurer shall place these funds in the general fund as follows:
     (a) Thirty-six percent shall be credited to the ORV and nonhighway vehicle account and administered by the department of natural resources solely for acquisition, planning, development, maintenance, and management of ORV, nonmotorized, and nonhighway road recreation facilities, and information programs and maintenance of nonhighway roads;
     (b) Three and one-half percent shall be credited to the ORV and nonhighway vehicle account and administered by the department of fish and wildlife solely for the acquisition, planning, development, maintenance, and management of ORV, nonmotorized, and nonhighway road recreation facilities and the maintenance of nonhighway roads;
     (c) Two percent shall be credited to the ORV and nonhighway vehicle account and administered by the parks and recreation commission solely for the acquisition, planning, development, maintenance, and management of ORV, nonmotorized, and nonhighway road recreation facilities; and
     (d) Fifty-eight and one-half percent shall be credited to the nonhighway and off-road vehicle activities program account to be administered by the board for planning, acquisition, development, maintenance, and management of ORV, nonmotorized, and nonhighway road recreation facilities and for education, information, and law enforcement programs. The funds under this subsection shall be expended in accordance with the following limitations:
     (i) Not more than thirty percent may be expended for education, information, and law enforcement programs under this chapter;
     (ii) Not less than seventy percent may be expended for ORV, nonmotorized, and nonhighway road recreation facilities. Except as provided in (d)(iii) of this subsection, of this amount:
     (A) Not less than thirty percent, together with the funds the board receives under RCW 46.68.045, may be expended for ORV recreation facilities;
     (B) Not less than thirty percent may be expended for nonmotorized recreation facilities. Funds expended under this subsection (2)(d)(ii)(B) shall be known as Ira Spring outdoor recreation facilities funds; and
     (C) Not less than thirty percent may be expended for nonhighway road recreation facilities;
     (iii) The board may waive the minimum percentage cited in (d)(ii) of this subsection due to insufficient requests for funds or projects that score low in the board's project evaluation. Funds remaining after such a waiver must be allocated in accordance with board policy.
     (3) On a yearly basis an agency may not, except as provided in RCW 46.68.045, expend more than ((ten)) five percent of the funds it receives under this chapter for general administration expenses incurred in carrying out this chapter.
     (4) During the 2009-2011 fiscal biennium, the legislature may appropriate such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance in the NOVA account to the department of natural resources to install consistent off-road vehicle signage at department-managed recreation sites, and to implement the recreation opportunities on department-managed lands in the Reiter block and Ahtanum state forest, and to the state parks and recreation commission. The legislature finds that the appropriation of funds from the NOVA account during the 2009-2011 fiscal biennium for maintenance and operation of state parks or to improve accessibility for boaters and off-road vehicle users at state parks will benefit boaters and off-road vehicle users and others who use nonhighway and nonmotorized recreational facilities. The appropriations under this subsection are not required to follow the specific distribution specified in subsection (2) of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2011.