FINAL BILL REPORT

                     SHB 1993

                                 C 357 L 91

                            Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Concerning stadiums, and convention and performing arts centers.

By House Committee on Revenue (originally sponsored by Representative Peery).

House Committee on Revenue

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Background:  The standard 2 percent local option hotel/motel tax may be used by municipalities to finance the acquisition, construction, and maintenance of public stadiums, convention centers, and performing and visual arts facilities.  A municipality is defined as any county, city, or town.  The definition of facility is not limited to the actual building, but includes such items as access to the building and concession stands.

Any municipality, taxing district, or municipal corporation may lease land or other properties to another municipality for the development of public stadiums, convention centers, performing and visual arts facilities by the other municipality.

Summary:  A convention center facility in a county located in whole or in part in a national scenic area with a county population of 20,000, may include a hotel, destination resort, conference center, or similar facility.  Land on which the facility is located and land necessary for the operation of the facility are included in the definition of a convention center facility.  Such facilities are exempt from competitive bidding requirements until July 1, 1996.

Municipalities in any county located in whole or in part in a national scenic area when the county population is less than 20,000 and counties with population of less than 20,000 containing in whole or in part a national scenic area are authorized to sell convention center facilities. 

Any city with a population greater than 1,000 located on one of the San Juan islands or the county within which such a city is located may use hotel/motel tax proceeds for publicly owned facilities: (a) used for county fairs occurring no more than once a year and not extending over a period of more than seven days, or (b) to mitigate the impacts of tourism. 

Votes on Final Passage:

House 98    0

Senate   46    1     (Senate amended)

House 94    0     (House concurred)

Effective:     May 21, 1991