SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5033

      AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,

                        JANUARY 27, 1994

Brief Description:  Authorizing a county research service.

SPONSORS: Senator Haugen

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5033 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, McCaslin, Oke and Winsley.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786‑7405)

Hearing Dates: January 20, 1993; January 27, 1993; January 27, 1994

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Staff:  Steve Jones (786-7440)

Hearing Dates:  February 7, 1994

BACKGROUND:

The Municipal Research Council is a state agency that contracts to provide municipal research and services to cities and towns.  The council is composed of 18 members:  (1) four members are appointed by the Speaker of the House with equal representation from each of the two major political parties; (2) four members are appointed by the President of the Senate with equal representation from each of the two major political parties; (3) one member is appointed by the Governor; and (4) nine members are appointed from a list of nine nominees submitted by the board of directors of the Association of Washington Cities.

Counties do not have a similar research council.

For years the Municipal Research Council has contracted with the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington, a private nonprofit corporation, for the provision of these services.

Money appropriated to the Municipal Research Council is diverted from state motor vehicle excise tax receipts that otherwise would be distributed to cities on a per capita basis.

One and six-tenths percent of the state motor vehicle excise tax receipts are placed into the county sales and use tax equalization account and are distributed to various counties under a distribution formula.  Unused moneys are returned to the state general fund.

SUMMARY:

The responsibilities of the Municipal Research Council are expanded to include contracting for county research and services.  The services provided to cities, towns and counties shall be in proportion to the moneys appropriated for city and town research and services and county research and services.

The county research services account is created in the state treasury.  Each year, moneys remaining after distribution of state motor vehicle excise tax receipts to counties under the sales and use tax equalization program are placed into this account.   

Moneys in the county research services account may be spent only after appropriation and only to finance the costs of county research.

The number of members on the Municipal Research Council is increased from 18 to 20.  Four of the legislative members are eliminated and replaced with five county-elected officials.  The Governor appoints the county officials, two from nominees submitted by the board of the Washington Association of County Officials, and three from nominees submitted by the board of the Washington State Association of Counties.  Council members who are appointed as legislators or local officials lose their council positions if they no longer are legislators or local officials.  A council member remains on the council after his or her term expires until a successor is appointed.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Only so much money as is appropriated for the purposes of county research is transferred to the new account.  The remainder reverts to the general fund.  The correct number of members on the Municipal Research Council is 19.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:  None

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  No one