BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to defining distressed area for purposes of economic assistance; and amending RCW 43.165.010 and 43.168.020.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 43.165.010 and 1996 c 290 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires to the contrary, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development.

(2) "Director" means the director of the department.

(3) "Distressed area" means: (a) A county that has an unemployment rate that is twenty percent above the state-wide average for the previous three years; (b) a county that has a median household income that is less than seventy-five percent of the state median household income for the previous three years; (c) a community or area that has experienced sudden and severe or long-term and severe loss of employment, or erosion of its economic base due to decline of its dominant industries; ((or)) (d) an area within a county which area: (i) Is composed of contiguous census tracts; (ii) has a minimum population of five thousand persons; (iii) has at least seventy percent of its families and unrelated individuals with incomes below eighty percent of the county's median income for families and unrelated individuals; and (iv) has an unemployment rate which is at least forty percent higher than the county's unemployment rate; or (e) a county that has a proportion of its population enrolled in medical assistance that is forty percent or more above the state average for the previous three years. For purposes of this definition, "families and unrelated individuals" has the same meaning that is ascribed to that term by the federal department of housing and urban development in its regulations authorizing action grants for economic development and neighborhood revitalization projects.

(4) "Economic development revolving loan funds" means a local, not-for-profit or governmentally sponsored business loan program.

(5) "Team" means the community revitalization team.

(6) "Technical assistance" includes, but is not limited to, assistance with strategic planning, market research, business plan development review, organization and management development, accounting and legal services, grant and loan packaging, and other assistance which may be expected to contribute to the redevelopment and economic well-being of a distressed area.

Sec. 2. RCW 43.168.020 and 1996 c 290 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Committee" means the Washington state development loan fund committee.

(2) "Department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development.

(3) "Director" means the director of community, trade, and economic development.

(4) "Distressed area" means: (a) A county which has an unemployment rate which is twenty percent above the state average for the immediately previous three years; (b) a county that has a median household income that is less than seventy-five percent of the state median household income for the previous three years; (c) a metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the office of federal statistical policy and standards, United States department of commerce, in which the average level of unemployment for the calendar year immediately preceding the year in which an application is filed under this chapter exceeds the average state unemployment for such calendar year by twenty percent; (d) an area within a county, which area: (i) Is composed of contiguous census tracts; (ii) has a minimum population of five thousand persons; (iii) has at least seventy percent of its families and unrelated individuals with incomes below eighty percent of the county's median income for families and unrelated individuals; and (iv) has an unemployment rate which is at least forty percent higher than the county's unemployment rate; ((or)) (e) a county designated as a rural natural resources impact area under RCW 43.31.601 if an application is filed by July 1, 1997; or (f) a county that has a proportion of its population enrolled in medical assistance that is forty percent or more above the state average for the previous three years. For purposes of this definition, "families and unrelated individuals" has the same meaning that is ascribed to that term by the federal department of housing and urban development in its regulations authorizing action grants for economic development and neighborhood revitalization projects.

(5) "Fund" means the Washington state development loan fund.

(6) "Local development organization" means a nonprofit organization which is organized to operate within an area, demonstrates a commitment to a long-standing effort for an economic development program, and makes a demonstrable effort to assist in the employment of unemployed or underemployed residents in an area.

(7) "Project" means the establishment of a new or expanded business in an area which when completed will provide employment opportunities. "Project" also means the retention of an existing business in an area which when completed will provide employment opportunities.