SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6235

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

            Government Operations, February 6, 1998

                Ways & Means, February 10, 1998

Title:  An act relating to community athletic facilities.

Brief Description:  Creating the community athletic facilities council.

Sponsors:  Senators Jacobsen and Kohl.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/5/98, 2/6/98 [DPS-WM].

Ways & Means:  2/9/98, 2/10/98 [DP2S].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6235 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chair; Hale, Vice Chair; Haugen, Horn and T. Sheldon.

Staff:  Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6235 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Deccio, Vice Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Bauer, Fraser, Kohl, Long, Loveland, McDonald, Rossi, Schow, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Swecker, Thibaudeau and Winsley.

Staff:  David Schumacher (786-7474)

Background:  In 1997, Referendum 48 approved a mechanism established by the state to finance stadium and exhibition centers and education technology grants through a combination of state, local, and private sources.  The portion of resulting state and local tax revenues that is in excess of bond payments and a private contribution of $10 million is used to fund youth athletic facility grants.  The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation administers the youth athletic facility grants and awards them competitively to city, county, and nonprofit organizations.

Summary of Second Substitute Bill:  An advisory committee on community outdoor athletic fields is established within the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation and may advise the committee regarding youth athletic facility grants.  The advisory committee consists of seven members, three from the public at large and four from the legislative caucuses.

Second Substitute Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The first substitute bill included a specific process for providing the grants and created a new account within the treasury.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 4, 1998.

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

Testimony For:  There is a very great need for youth athletic fields statewide.  Communities want to coordinate and work with government to provide them.  An advisory committee is a good idea.  Matching of grant funds should be required, but a set level can be difficult for small communities.  There is no emergency.  Technical clarifications and additional work on the proposed program are needed.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Scott Sotebeer, Mickey Merriam, Friends of Athletic Fields (pro); Laura Eckert Johnson, IAC.