SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 5402

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed Senate, February 18, 2020

Title: An act relating to improving tax and licensing laws administered by the department of revenue, but not including changes to tax laws that are estimated to affect state or local tax collections as reflected in any fiscal note prepared and approved under the process established in chapter 43.88A RCW.

Brief Description: Improving tax and licensing laws administered by the department of revenue, but not including changes to tax laws that are estimated to affect state or local tax collections as reflected in any fiscal note prepared and approved under the process established in chapter 43.88A RCW.

Sponsors: Senators Schoesler and Rolfes.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 1/30/19, 2/04/19 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate: 2/18/20, 47-0.

Brief Summary of Engrossed Bill

  • Makes technical clarifications, updates, and consolidations in the state tax and licensing codes.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Rolfes, Chair; Frockt, Vice Chair, Operating, Capital Lead; Mullet, Capital Budget Cabinet; Braun, Ranking Member; Brown, Assistant Ranking Member, Operating; Honeyford, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Bailey, Becker, Billig, Conway, Darneille, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Liias, Palumbo, Pedersen, Rivers, Schoesler, Van De Wege, Wagoner, Warnick and Wilson, L..

Staff: Alia Kennedy (786-7405)

Background: Technical revisions to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) may be required for multiple reasons. Sections of the RCW may be repealed, recodified, or amended in a way changing their internal or statutory numbering or terminology. The language in these sections, as well as references to these sections in other provisions of the RCW, then become incorrect. Statutes may become obsolete with the passage of time, evolution of technology, improvement of administrative processes, or adoption of state or federal legislation. Administrative agencies occasionally suggest statutory revisions for the purpose of increasing clarity or improving administration.

Summary of Engrossed Bill: Updating Tax Preference Performance Statements. Updates the tax preference performance statements for a number of tax preferences by clarifying tax preference standards and replacing references to the annual tax surveys and reports with consolidated annual tax performance reports.

Clarifying and Consolidating Provisions. The following updates are made:

Technical Corrections. The following corrections are made:

Restoring Statutory Definitions. The following are defined:

Reduces Administrative Burden on Claimants. The following amendments are made:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This is an annual technical cleanup bill. The Department of Revenue worked with the Code Revisers Office to identify areas of code that were obsolete, redundant, or unclear. The intent is to reduce administrative burden and provide technical clarity in the tax and licensing laws.

Persons Testifying: PRO: David Duvall, Department of Revenue.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.