SB 5999 - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 1ST SUB)

     Provides that a public facilities district is created in every county with a population of one million or more.  However, if a car rental tax is not adopted by June 24, 1997, then any county with a population of five hundred thousand or more may create a public facilities district within the county for the purpose of developing a stadium and exhibition center upon adoption of a resolution providing for the creation of such a district by the county legislative authority.

     Designates the powers and restrictions on a public facilities district which authorizes a car rental tax.

     Requires the public facilities district, the county, and the city, if any, in which the stadium and exhibition center is to be located to enter into one or more agreements regarding the construction of a stadium and exhibition center.  The agreements shall address, but not be limited to:  (1) Expedited permit processing for the design and construction of the project;

     (2) expedited environmental review processing;

     (3) expedited processing of requests for street, right of way, or easement vacations, if necessary for the construction of the project; and

     (4) other items deemed necessary for the design and construction of the project.

     Provides that, the legislative authority of a county that has authorized a tax under this act may levy and fix a tax on charges for admission to events in a stadium and exhibition center constructed in the county on or after January 1, 1998, that is owned by a public facilities district under chapter 36.100 RCW.

     Authorizes the legislative authority of a county that has authorized a tax under this act to levy and fix a tax on any vehicle parking charges imposed at any parking facility that is part of a stadium and exhibition center.

     Provides that a tax is imposed on each sale at wholesale of sports memorabilia or sports-licensed goods in this state.  The rate of the tax shall be ten percent of the sales price.

     Directs the secretary of state to submit sections 14 and 37 of this act to the people for their adoption and ratification, or rejection, at a special election to be held on June 3, 1997, to be held in this state, in accordance with Article II, section 1 of the state Constitution and the laws adopted to facilitate its operation.

     Grants sales and use tax exemptions for the stadium and exhibition center.

     Declares that the provisions of the act constitute the entire state contribution for a stadium and exhibition center, and the state will not make any additional contributions based on revised cost or revenue estimates, cost overruns, unforeseen circumstances, or any other reason.

     Creates the technology grant account.

     Declares that expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of technology grants to school districts for use in the acquisition of K-12 classroom computer hardware and software, on-line access services and equipment, and teacher training with respect to the acquisitions.

     Creates the stadium and exhibition center account in the custody of the state treasurer.

     Declares that bonds shall not be issued under this act unless the public facilities district has certified to the department of revenue that a professional football team has made a binding and legally enforceable contractual commitment to play all of its regular season and playoff home games in the stadium and exhibition center for a period of time not shorter than the term of the bonds issued or to be issued to finance the initial construction of the stadium and exhibition center.

     Imposes additional contractual requirements on the team prior to the issuance of bonds.

     Directs the lottery commission to conduct new games with themes related to activities that will take place at the stadium and exhibition center.  These games are in addition to any games conducted under RCW 67.70.042 and are intended to generate additional moneys sufficient to cover the distributions under RCW 67.70.240(5).

     Requires the person or entity responsible for operating a stadium and exhibition center to provide the lottery with any combination of in-kind advertising, sponsorship, or prize promotions, valued at one million dollars annually for the purpose of increasing lottery sales of games authorized under this act.