BILL REQ. #:  H-5877.1 

     AN ACT Relating to fees to implement programs that protect and improve Washington's health, safety, education, employees, and consumers.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   To protect taxpayers, many state programs require the costs of licensing, registration, certification, and related government services to be borne by the profession or industry that uses the services, rather than by the taxpaying public as a whole. State standards that govern the professional duties of these industries are intended to protect the general public by safeguarding health, safety, employees, and consumers. Similarly, state higher education programs require a portion of their costs to be shared by those participating in them. The legislative approval of the fees and fee increases in this act is intended to ensure that the general public is not assessed these costs while also providing adequate funding to statutory programs that safeguard and improve Washington's health, safety, education, employees, and consumers.