H-1551              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1175

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representative Lux

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Local Government.

AN ACT Relating to dangerous materials; adding new sections to chapter 35.21 RCW; and adding new sections to chapter 36.32 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:

          Any city or town is authorized to impose an excise tax on the privilege of storing dangerous materials on a temporary or long-term basis within the city or town.  Proceeds from this tax may be used to finance the costs of:  (1) Equipment, training, and personnel used for emergency preparedness, emergency medical services, fire fighting capacities, fire prevention activities, or increased levels of such preparedness, services, capacities, and activities related to the storage of such materials; (2) inspections of such storage sites; (3) enforcement of codes and regulations concerning such storage; and (4) public education concerning such storage.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:

          Subject to RCW 42.17.310, information obtained by a city or town that adopts regulations concerning the taxation or storage of dangerous materials within its boundaries, shall be made available to the general public.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 36.32 RCW to read as follows:

          Any county is authorized to impose an excise tax on the privilege of storing dangerous materials on a temporary or long-term basis within the county.  Proceeds from this tax may be used to finance the costs of:  (1) Equipment, training, and personnel used for emergency preparedness, emergency medical services, fire fighting capacities, fire prevention activities, or increased levels of such preparedness, services, capacities, and activities related to the storage of such materials; (2) inspections of such storage sites; (3) enforcement of codes and regulations concerning such storage; and (4) public education concerning such storage.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 36.32 RCW to read as follows:

          Subject to RCW 42.17.310, information obtained by a county that adopts regulations concerning the taxation or storage of dangerous materials within its boundaries, shall be made available to the general public.