HOUSE BILL REPORT

                     SHB 1993

                           As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to convention facilities.

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

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

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Revenue, March 6, 1991, DPS;

Passed House, March 19, 1991, 98-0;

Amended by Senate;

House concurred;

Passed Legislature, 94-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

REVENUE

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1993 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Wang, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair; Holland, Ranking Minority Member; Wynne, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Belcher; Brumsickle; Day; Leonard; Morris; Morton; Phillips; Rust; Silver; and Van Luven. 

Staff:  Robin Appleford (786-7093).

Background:  The standard 2 percent local option hotel/motel tax may be used by municipalities to finance the acquisition, construction, and maintenance of public stadium, convention center, performing arts, 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, land around 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 stadium, convention center, performing arts, and visual arts facilities by the other municipality.

Summary of Bill:  In a county located in whole or in part in a national scenic area and the population of which is less than 20,000, a convention center facility may include a hotel, destination resort, conference center, or similar or related facility.  Land on which the facility is located and necessary for the operation of the facility is 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 less than 20,000 containing in whole or in part a national scenic area are authorized to sell convention center facilities. 

Any city with 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. 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  This bill addresses a unique situation in Skamania county.  The change in the definition of "convention centers" will accommodate a facility with overnight accommodations in the Columbia River Gorge national scenic area that is a public-private partnership.  This facility will draw visitors and help the county diversify its timber-dependent economy.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Bob Leick, Skamania County.