2392-S AAS 3/8/00 S5141

2392-S AAS 3/8/00 S5141.1

SHB 2392 - S AMD - 279

By Senator Patterson

ADOPTED 3/8/00

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that while government services are provided to the citizens of the state of Washington through many mechanisms, the most prevalent delivery of services occurs through city, county, or state government actions. Increased demand for these services and limited revenue to meet those services have led to unproductive competition between cities, counties, and the state for the revenue that is collected and shared between cities, counties, and the state.

Therefore, the legislature finds that there is a need to evaluate the delivery of government services, the allotment of revenues, and the collection and distribution of various fines and forfeitures through the establishment of a joint task force on local governments.

The legislature further finds that rules adopted by state agencies cause local governments to allocate funds to meet those rules that are not fully funded at the state level.

The legislature further finds that the state must recognize the costs to local governments of rules adopted by state agencies and mitigate the financial impacts of those rules for a significant period to allow local governments to develop strategies to comply with the requirements of Initiative Measure No. 695.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The joint task force on local governments is created, to consist of seventeen members including:

(a) The following four members of the house of representatives or their designees: (i) The chair and ranking minority member or the cochairs of the committee on appropriations; and (ii) the chair and ranking minority member or the cochairs of the committee on local government;

(b) The following four members of the senate or their designees: (i) The chair and the ranking minority member of the committee on ways and means; and (ii) the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on state and local government;

(d) Four members from the association of Washington cities;

(e) Two members from the Washington state association of counties; and

(f) Two members from the Washington association of county officials.

(2) The nonlegislative members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but will be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Legislative members of the task force will be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW

44.04.120. The staff of senate committee services and the office of program research of the house of representatives shall provide support to the task force.

(3) The task force must be cochaired by one senator, chosen by the task force, and one state representative, chosen by the task force, from opposite political parties. The cochairs shall appoint experts and advisors as nonvoting members of the task force to provide information on various subjects, including but not limited to special purpose districts and public employee unions. The task force shall establish rules of procedure at its first meeting.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The joint task force on local governments shall:

(1) Complete a thorough study of the delivery of government services, allotment of revenues, and collection and distribution of various fines and forfeitures; and

(2) Commence the study by July 1, 2000, present an interim report of its findings and any recommendations to the legislature by January 30, 2001, and present a final report, including proposed legislation, addressing its recommendations to the legislature by January 1, 2002.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This act expires March 30, 2002."

SHB 2392 - S AMD - 279

By Senator Patterson

ADOPTED 3/8/00

On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "services;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "creating new sections; and providing an expiration date."