1155-S AMH CHAS H1189.1
SHB 1155 - H AMD 213
By Representative Chase
NOT ADOPTED 03/01/2021
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. (1) A study group for the use of sales and use tax for emergency communication systems and facilities for the largest county east of the Cascade mountains is created.
(2) The study group membership must include the following:
(a) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from each of the largest caucuses in the house of representatives. The member selected shall come from a legislative district that includes all or part of the largest county east of the Cascade mountains.
(b) The president of the senate shall appoint one member from each of the largest caucuses in the senate. The member selected shall come from a legislative district that includes all or part of the largest county east of the Cascade mountains.
(c) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall jointly appoint four elected officials as follows:
(i) One member of the county commission for the largest county east of the Cascade mountains;
(ii) One member from each of the city councils in the two largest cities located in the largest county east of the Cascade mountains; and
(iii) One member from one of the city councils from a small city or town located in the largest county east of the Cascade mountains.
(d) Each member selected pursuant to (c) of this subsection must appoint one citizen member.
(e) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall jointly appoint:
(i) The county sheriff for the largest county east of the Cascade mountains;
(ii) The chief of the fire department from the largest fire department in the largest county east of the Cascade mountains;
(iii) The chief of a fire department located in the largest county east of the Cascade mountains as selected by the remaining fire departments in the largest county east of the Cascade mountains;
(iv) Two members selected by the largest union representing fire department members in the largest county east of the Cascade mountains;
(v) One member selected by the union representing the members of the sheriff's department for the largest county east of the Cascade mountains;
(vi) One member selected by the union representing the police department members of the largest city located in the largest county east of the Cascade mountains; and
(vii) One member selected by local tribes with a presence in the largest county east of the Cascade mountains.
(f) The members appointed pursuant to (a) through (e) of this subsection must appoint two additional members with expertise on racial equity.
(3) The study group must select a chair and vice chair from among its membership. The members appointed in subsection (2)(a) and (b) of this section must convene the initial meeting of the study group.
(4) Members appointed pursuant to subsection (2)(a) through (c) of this section may designate an alternate individual to represent them at meetings.
(5) Funding for the study group will be provided on a per capita basis between the two largest cities located in the largest county east of the Cascade mountains and the unincorporated portion of the largest county east of the Cascade mountains. Funds must be held by the county treasurer of the largest county east of the Cascade mountains in a designated account and may only be used for direct costs related to the study group.
(6) The study group must review the following issues related to the sales and use tax for emergency communication systems and facilities:
(a) Public safety impacts;
(b) Current and projected levels of service;
(c) Response times;
(d) Financial efficiencies;
(e) Jurisdictional efficiencies; and
(f) Racial equity impacts.
(7) The study group must issue a report to the legislature addressing, at a minimum, the issues listed in subsection (6) of this section by December 31, 2022.
(8) Legislative members of the study group are reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members are not entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they are elected officials or participating on behalf of an employer, governmental entity, or other organization. Any reimbursement for other nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW.
(9) For the purposes of this section, the "largest county east of the Cascade mountains" and "largest cities" in that county must be determined by population.
(10) This section expires January 1, 2023."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Eliminates the provisions that modify the requirements related to interlocal agreements for the use of emergency communication systems and facilities local sales and use tax. Creates a study group with membership from the legislature, elected officials from impacted entities in the largest county east of the Cascade Mountains, and members of impacted entities and citizens. Requires funding for the study group to be provided by the county and the two largest cities in the largest county east of the Cascade Mountains. Requires a report to the legislature by December 31, 2022.
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