SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1346

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           State & Local Government, March 25, 1999

Title:  An act relating to dissolution of a cultural arts, stadium and convention district.

Brief Description:  Providing an alternative method for dissolving a cultural arts, stadium or convention district.

Sponsors:  Representatives O'Brien, Koster, Cody, DeBolt, Constantine, Kessler, D. Schmidt, Edwards and Radcliff.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  3/25/99 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Haugen, Horn, Kline and McCaslin.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  A cultural arts, stadium and convention district provides cultural arts facilities, convention facilities, and stadiums.  Approval by simple majority vote creates the district.  The district may include both unincorporated and incorporated areas, but not part of a city or town.  The governing body is composed of up to nine elected or appointed officials of the county, cities, port districts, school districts, or community colleges.  The boundaries of the district must follow school district or community college boundaries as far as practicable.  The activities of the district are funded by: revenue bonds; general obligation bonds; excess voter approved property taxes; and regular property taxes of up to 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for a six-year period when authorized by 60 percent or more voter approval.

A cultural arts, stadium and convention district may only be dissolved and its affairs liquidated when so directed by a majority of the persons in the district voting on such question.

Summary of Amended Bill:  An alternative procedure for dissolution of a cultural arts, stadium and convention district is authorized.  A petition for an order of dissolution may be submitted to the superior court of a county of the district.  The petition must be signed by no less than two-thirds of the legislative authorities who have representatives on the governing body of the district.  All signatures must have been collected within 120 days of the date of submission to the court.  Dissolution procedures are specified.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The district must petition for an order of dissolution in superior court.  Only two-thirds of the legislative authorities must sign the petition.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The district has failed three times to provide property tax funding.  It has no assets to pay for an election to dissolve the district.  It is not fair to ask all of Snohomish County to absorb the cost.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Gary Nelson, Snohomish County Council (pro).