RCW 43.135.025 General fund expenditure limit—Computation—Annual limit adjustment—Definitions—Emergency exception—State treasurer duty, penalty—State expenditure limit committee.

(1) Beginning July 1, 2021, the state shall not expend from the general fund during any fiscal year state moneys in excess of the state expenditure limit established under this chapter.

(2) Except pursuant to an appropriation under RCW 43.135.045(2), the state treasurer shall not issue or redeem any check, warrant, or voucher that will result in a state general fund expenditure for any fiscal year in excess of the state expenditure limit established under this chapter. A violation of this subsection constitutes a violation of RCW 43.88.290 and shall subject the state treasurer to the penalties provided in RCW 43.88.300.

(3) The state expenditure limit for any fiscal year shall be the previous fiscal year's state expenditure limit increased by a percentage rate that equals the fiscal growth factor.

(4) For purposes of computing the state expenditure limit for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, the phrase "the previous fiscal year's state expenditure limit" means the total state expenditures from the state general fund for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020, plus the fiscal growth factor.

(5) A state expenditure limit committee is established for the purpose of determining and adjusting the state expenditure limit as provided in this chapter. The members of the state expenditure limit committee are the director of financial management, the attorney general or the attorney general's designee, and the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate committee on ways and means and the house of representatives committee on ways and means. All actions of the state expenditure limit committee taken pursuant to this chapter require an affirmative vote of at least four members.

(6) Each November, the state expenditure limit committee shall adjust the expenditure limit for the preceding fiscal year based on actual expenditures and known changes in the fiscal growth factor and then project an expenditure limit for the next two fiscal years. If, by November 30th, the state expenditure limit committee has not adopted the expenditure limit adjustment and projected expenditure limit as provided in subsection (5) of this section, the attorney general or his or her designee shall adjust or project the expenditure limit, as necessary.

(7) "Fiscal growth factor" means the average growth in state personal income for the prior ten fiscal years.

(8) "General fund" means the state general fund.

[2015 3rd sp.s. c 29 § 3; 2009 c 479 § 35; 2005 c 72 § 4; (2006 c 56 § 7 expired July 1, 2007); 2000 2nd sp.s. c 2 § 1; 1994 c 2 § 2 (Initiative Measure No. 601, approved November 2, 1993).]

NOTES:

Effective date—2015 3rd sp.s. c 29: "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 immediately [July 6, 2015]." [2015 3rd sp.s. c 29 § 5.]

Findings—2015 3rd sp.s. c 29: "The legislature finds that under the state supreme court's decision and subsequent orders in McCleary v. State, the state has an Article IX constitutional obligation to make significant enhancements to the program of basic education over the next biennia. The legislature further finds that the state expenditure limit was first enacted in 1993 as part of Initiative Measure No. 601, and that Washington has undergone many changes in the intervening years, including a recession during which state general fund revenues and expenditures actually declined despite population growth and increased demands for public services. Finally, the legislature finds that the new state requirements for a four-year balanced budget and budget outlook process provide a better tool for balancing and controlling the state budget while fulfilling constitutional requirements than does the state expenditure limit process. For these reasons, during the biennia in which the legislature is phasing in its Article IX obligations and for the ensuing biennium, the legislature is temporarily suspending the state expenditure limit." [2015 3rd sp.s. c 29 § 1.]

Effective date—2009 c 479: See note following RCW 2.56.030.

Expiration date—2006 c 56 §§ 7 and 8: "Sections 7 and 8 of this act expire July 1, 2007." [2006 c 56 § 12.]

Effective dates—2006 c 56: See note following RCW 41.45.230.

Findings—Effective dates—2005 c 72: See notes following RCW 43.135.010.

Effective date—2000 2nd sp.s. c 2: "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, 2000." [2000 2nd sp.s. c 2 § 4.]