PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: License fees.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 9.46.070.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Washington state gambling commission has one of the lengthiest and most complex fee structures in state government. With the implementation of I-960, the commission is required to receive legislative approval for any fee increases requested. This involves submitting a complete list of all our current fees and the fee changes proposed. During the last proposed fee increase during the 2008 legislative session, the sheer number of fees led to some confusion and concern by both office of financial management and legislative staff. This may be one of the reasons the fee increase did not pass. In addition, simplification of our fee structure was an item that the commission agreed to consider as part of the recent consolidation study that was completed for the legislature. In completing this fee structure change, we reduced the one hundred ninety-one license fees individually listed in the fee rules down to ninety-eight fees. The changes made are projected to be revenue neutral.
Process for Developing New Rule: Interested parties can participate in the discussion of this proposed change by attending a commission meeting, or contacting the agency rules coordinator at the contact information below.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Susan Arland, Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 42400, Olympia, WA 98504-2400, (360) 486-3466, e-mail Susana@wsgc.wa.gov, fax (360) 486-3625.
[Meetings on] March 12, 2010, at the Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, (360) 491-0857; on April 9, 2010, at the Red Lion Hotel, 2300 Evergreen Park Drive, Olympia, WA 98502, (360) 943-4000; and on May 14, 2010, at the Red Lion Hotel, 2525 North 20th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301, (509) 547-0701.
February 17, 2010
Susan Arland
Rules Coordinator