FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5521

                          C 437 L 97

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing a county research service.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senator Haugen).

Senate Committee on Government Operations

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Government Administration

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 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.

The state imposes excise taxes on liquor, a portion of which is deposited in the liquor excise tax fund.  Twenty percent of the liquor excise tax receipts that are placed into this fund are distributed to counties on a per capita basis.

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.  Only so much money as is appropriated for the purposes of county research is transferred to the new 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 23.  Five county-elected officials are added to the council.  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.

Funding is provided from liquor excise tax distributions.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 49 0

House     97 0 (House amended)

Senate    45 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 1, 1997