SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6004

                As Passed Senate, March 9, 1995

Title:  An act relating to joint agreements between cities and counties for criminal justice purposes.

Brief Description:  Authorizing joint agreements between cities and counties for criminal justice purposes.

Sponsors:  Senators Sellar and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/28/95, 3/1/95 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/9/95, 47-1.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Drew, Hale, Heavey, McCaslin and Winsley.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  The legislative authority of any county may impose a one-tenth of 1 percent sales and use tax (subject to referendum) to be used exclusively for criminal justice purposes.  Criminal justice purposes is defined, in part, as activities that substantially assist the criminal justice system.  The moneys received from this tax may not be used to replace or supplant existing funding.  When distributing these revenues, the State Treasurer distributes 10 percent to the county in which the tax was collected and the remainder is distributed to the county and the cities within the county ratably based on population.

A question has arisen as to whether a county, and the cities within the county, may jointly expend these funds, pursuant to an interlocal agreement, to operate a juvenile detention facility.

Summary of Bill:  Cities and counties, or any combination thereof, are expressly authorized for criminal justice purposes to participate in interlocal agreements for the expenditure of funds received from the criminal justice sales and use tax.  Criminal justice purposes include, but are not limited to, the construction, improvement, and expansion of jails, court facilities, and juvenile justice facilities.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill would clarify an ambiguity concerning the use of these funds and could be of help to a number of counties and cities.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Sellar, prime sponsor; Kurt Sharar, WA State Assn. of Counties (pro).

House Amendment(s):  The amendment states that cities, towns, and counties are responsible for the disposition of gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor offenders by using their own courts or entering into contracts to provide these services.