5987-S.E2 AMH FARR MUNN 576

2ESSB 5987 - H AMD 581

By Representative Farrell

ADOPTED 07/01/2015

     On page 14, line 35, after "operations account," insert "the Puget Sound taxpayer accountability account,"

    On page 18, line 21, after "operations account," insert "the Puget Sound taxpayer accountability account,"

    On page 115, beginning on line 5, strike "general fund" and insert "Puget Sound taxpayer accountability account"

    On page 115, after line 22, insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 423.  A new section is added to chapter 43.79 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The Puget Sound taxpayer accountability account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may only be used for distribution to counties where a portion of the county is within the boundaries of a regional transit authority that includes a county with a population of one million five hundred thousand or more.  Counties may use distributions from the account only for educational services to improve educational outcomes in early learning, K-12, and higher education including, but not limited to, for youths that are low-income, homeless, or in foster care, or other vulnerable populations. Counties receiving distributions under this section must track all expenditures and uses of the funds.  To the greatest extent practicable, the expenditures of the counties must follow the requirements of any transportation subarea equity element used by the regional transit authority.

    (2) Beginning September 1, 2017, and by the last day of September, December, March, and June of each year thereafter, the state treasurer shall distribute moneys deposited in the Puget Sound taxpayer accountability account to counties for which a portion of the county is within the boundaries of a regional transit authority that includes a county with a population of one million five hundred thousand.  The treasurer must make the distribution to the counties on the relative basis of that transit authority’s population that lives within the respective counties."

    Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.  Correct the title.

EFFECT:   Redirects the sales and use tax offset fee paid by a regional transit authority from the general fund to the Puget Sound taxpayer accountability account. Establishes the appropriated Puget Sound taxpayer accountability account and allows that account to retain its investment earnings.  Expenditures from the account are required to be distributed quarterly beginning in September 2017 and must go to counties where a portion of the county is within the boundaries of a regional transit authority (RTA) that includes a county with a population of one million five hundred thousand or more based on the counties' population within the RTA.  The funds going to the designated counties must be used for educational services including for youths that are low-income, homeless, or in foster care, or other vulnerable populations.  The grant expenditures must be tracked and follow any subarea equity element used by the RTA.

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