SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6126

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS, FEBRUARY 4, 1994

Brief Description:  Providing for community facilities for youth activities.

SPONSORS: Senators McAuliffe, Drew, Talmadge, M. Rasmussen, Haugen and Winsley

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6126 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Fraser, Chairman; Moore, Morton, Sutherland and Talmadge.

Staff:  Gary Wilburn (786‑7453)

Hearing Dates: January 28, 1994; February 4, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Numerous organizations have experienced a severe shortage of youth recreational facilities available within Washington State.  Many youth sports teams have found it difficult to obtain practice sites due to the scarcity and high demand of the sites.

It is suggested that additional funding is needed to purchase and construct more recreational facilities, and to renovate and maintain existing recreational centers.

SUMMARY:

An assessment of 5 percent is imposed upon every admission ticket to a professional sporting event or professional cultural event, where the ticket has a face value greater than $5.00.   The assessment is not imposed upon successive sales of the ticket or upon tickets to events where the entire net proceeds are donated to charity.  The ticket retailer is responsible for collecting the tax and remitting it to the Department of Revenue.

The moneys collected are to be deposited to the youth facilities account, created in the custody of the State Treasurer.  Moneys in the account are to be distributed by the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development for the purchase, construction or renovation of youth facilities, and for extending the hours of existing facilities.  The moneys are to be distributed as grants to public agencies, schools or private nonprofit entities acting in conjunction with a local government.

The department is to adopt rules for funding eligibility, priorities, ensuring preeminence for youth activities, and other considerations.  Funding is to prioritized based upon community need and multiple use facilities, as well as geographic diversity.  Matching from nonstate resources shall be required, and the state grants shall not be used by grantees to supplant existing resources dedicated to these purposes.

The department shall establish a youth facilities advisory committee to review applications and make funding recommendations.  The committee's membership is specified, including three state agency directors or their designees, representatives from the nonprofit and private sectors, local government, and youth representatives.  The youth representatives may receive per diem and mileage.

The program and tax is subject to sunset review in the year 2000 and termination effective June 30, 2001.  The act shall be submitted to the voters at the next general election pursuant to the referendum provisions of the State Constitution.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The original bill is replaced.  A portion of the King County hotel/motel tax revenues is redistributed from arts and cultural programs to youth sports and cultural activities.  The revenues are to be deposited to an account created by ordinance, which provides the criteria for distribution.  A reference to a bond maturity date of 2013 is deleted, having the effect of extending an exemption in King County to the requirement that a city hotel/motel tax levied becomes a credit against the county tax.

Appropriation:  none 

Revenue:  yes

Fiscal Note:  requested January 13, 1994

Effective Date:  January 1, 1995

TESTIMONY FOR:

Will help to meet a growing need for additional youth recreational and cultural facilities, and to provide additional funds to extend operating hours of programs into the evening for youths.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

Opposition expressed to the funding source in the original bill; no testimony regarding the substitute bill.

TESTIFIED:  Senate McAuliffe (prime sponsor); Marlyta Deck, WA State Fairs Assn.; Jim Webster, WA Rec. & Park Assn. (pro); CON:  Tom Iouanne, WA Center for the Performing Arts; Becky Bogard, Jim Marsh, Seattle Supersonics; Mike Eagan, WA State Arts Alliance; Celia Fritz, Motion Picture Assn. of America