BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to moneys for department of community, trade, and economic development department duties as a member of the agency rural community assistance task force; amending RCW 84.33.081 and 43.31.641; and adding a new section to chapter 43.31 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 84.33.081 and 1985 c 184 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) On the last business day of the second month of each calendar quarter, the state treasurer shall distribute from the timber tax distribution account to each county the amount of tax collected on behalf of each county under RCW 84.33.051, less each county's proportionate share of appropriations for collection and administration activities under RCW 84.33.051, and shall transfer to the state general fund the amount of tax collected on behalf of the state under RCW 84.33.041, less two percent which shall be deposited in the wood products diversification account and less the state's proportionate share of appropriations for collection and administration activities under RCW 84.33.041. The county treasurer shall deposit moneys received under this section in a county timber tax account which shall be established by each county. Following receipt of moneys under this section, the county treasurer shall make distributions from any moneys available in the county timber tax account to taxing districts in the county, except the state, under subsections (2) through (4) of this section.

(2) From moneys available, there first shall be a distribution to each taxing district having debt service payments due during the calendar year, based upon bonds issued under authority of a vote of the people conducted pursuant to RCW 84.52.056 and based upon excess levies for a capital project fund authorized pursuant to RCW 84.52.053, of an amount equal to the timber assessed value of the district multiplied by the tax rate levied for payment of the debt service and capital projects: PROVIDED, That in respect to levies for a debt service or capital project fund authorized before July 1, 1984, the amount allocated shall not be less than an amount equal to the same percentage of such debt service or capital project fund represented by timber tax allocations to such payments in calendar year 1984. Distribution under this subsection (2) shall be used only for debt service and capital projects payments. The distribution under this subsection shall be made as follows: One-half of such amount shall be distributed in the first quarter of the year and one-half shall be distributed in the third quarter of the year.

(3) From the moneys remaining after the distributions under subsection (2) of this section, the county treasurer shall distribute to each school district an amount equal to one-half of the timber assessed value of the district or eighty percent of the timber roll of such district in calendar year 1983 as determined under this chapter, whichever is greater, multiplied by the tax rate, if any, levied by the district under RCW 84.52.052 or 84.52.053 for purposes other than debt service payments and capital projects supported under subsection (2) of this section. The distribution under this subsection shall be made as follows: One-half of such amount shall be distributed in the first quarter of the year and one-half shall be distributed in the third quarter of the year.

(4) After the distributions directed under subsections (2) and (3) of this section, if any, each taxing district shall receive an amount equal to the timber assessed value of the district multiplied by the tax rate, if any, levied as a regular levy of the district or as a special levy not included in subsection (2) or (3) of this section.

(5) If there are insufficient moneys in the county timber tax account to make full distribution under subsection (4) of this section, the county treasurer shall multiply the amount to be distributed to each taxing district under that subsection by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the county timber tax account balance before making the distribution under that subsection. The denominator of the fraction is the account balance which would be required to make full distribution under that subsection.

(6) After making the distributions under subsections (2) through (4) of this section in the full amount indicated for the calendar year, the county treasurer shall place any excess revenue up to twenty percent of the total distributions made for the year under subsections (2) through (4) of this section in a reserve status until the beginning of the next calendar year. Any moneys remaining in the county timber tax account after this amount is placed in reserve shall be distributed to each taxing district in the county in the same proportions as the distributions made under subsection (4) of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW to read as follows:

There is established in the state treasury the wood products diversification account. All receipts from the amounts required under RCW 84.33.081 and 43.31.641(1) to be deposited in the account shall be deposited in the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only to carry out the forest products extension program required by RCW 43.31.641. Only the director of the department of community, trade, and economic development or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures.

Sec. 3. RCW 43.31.641 and 1995 c 226 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

The department of community, trade, and economic development, as a member of the agency rural community assistance task force, shall:

(1) Implement an expanded value-added forest products development industrial extension program. The department shall provide, directly or through contract, technical assistance to small and medium-sized forest products companies to include:

(a) Secondary manufacturing product development;

(b) Plant and equipment maintenance;

(d) Building products export development assistance;

(e) At-risk business development assistance;

(f) Business network development; and

(g) Timber impact area industrial diversification.

The department shall charge a fee for the services provided under this subsection. The fees collected shall be deposited in the wood products diversification account in the state treasury.

(2) Provide local contracts for small and medium-sized forest product companies, start-ups, and business organizations for business feasibility, market development, and business network contracts that will benefit value-added production efforts in the industry.

(3) Contract with local business organizations in timber impact areas for development of programs to promote industrial diversification. The department shall provide local capacity-building grants to local governments and community-based organizations in timber impact areas, which may include long-range planning and needs assessments.

For the 1991‑93 biennium, the department of community, trade, and economic development shall use funds appropriated for this section for contracts and for no more than two additional staff positions.