H-2276

AN ACT Relating to the oil spill response tax; amending RCW 82.23B.020 and 90.56.510; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 82.23B.020 and 1997 c 449 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) An oil spill response tax is imposed on the privilege of receiving crude oil or petroleum products at a marine terminal within this state from a waterborne vessel or barge operating on the navigable waters of this state. The tax imposed in this section is levied upon the owner of the crude oil or petroleum products immediately after receipt of the same into the storage tanks of a marine terminal from a waterborne vessel or barge at the rate of one cent per barrel of crude oil or petroleum product received.

(2) In addition to the tax imposed in subsection (1) of this section, an oil spill administration tax is imposed on the privilege of receiving crude oil or petroleum products at a marine terminal within this state from a waterborne vessel or barge operating on the navigable waters of this state. The tax imposed in this section is levied upon the owner of the crude oil or petroleum products immediately after receipt of the same into the storage tanks of a marine terminal from a waterborne vessel or barge at the rate of four cents per barrel of crude oil or petroleum product.

(3) The taxes imposed by this chapter shall be collected by the marine terminal operator from the taxpayer. If any person charged with collecting the taxes fails to bill the taxpayer for the taxes, or in the alternative has not notified the taxpayer in writing of the imposition of the taxes, or having collected the taxes, fails to pay them to the department in the manner prescribed by this chapter, whether such failure is the result of the person's own acts or the result of acts or conditions beyond the person's control, he or she shall, nevertheless, be personally liable to the state for the amount of the taxes. Payment of the taxes by the owner to a marine terminal operator shall relieve the owner from further liability for the taxes.

(4) Taxes collected under this chapter shall be held in trust until paid to the department. Any person collecting the taxes who appropriates or converts the taxes collected shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the money required to be collected is not available for payment on the date payment is due. The taxes required by this chapter to be collected shall be stated separately from other charges made by the marine terminal operator in any invoice or other statement of account provided to the taxpayer.

(5) If a taxpayer fails to pay the taxes imposed by this chapter to the person charged with collection of the taxes and the person charged with collection fails to pay the taxes to the department, the department may, in its discretion, proceed directly against the taxpayer for collection of the taxes.

(6) The taxes shall be due from the marine terminal operator, along with reports and returns on forms prescribed by the department, within twenty-five days after the end of the month in which the taxable activity occurs.

(7) The amount of taxes, until paid by the taxpayer to the marine terminal operator or to the department, shall constitute a debt from the taxpayer to the marine terminal operator. Any person required to collect the taxes under this chapter who, with intent to violate the provisions of this chapter, fails or refuses to do so as required and any taxpayer who refuses to pay any taxes due under this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor as provided in chapter 9A.20 RCW.

(8) Upon prior approval of the department, the taxpayer may pay the taxes imposed by this chapter directly to the department. The department shall give its approval for direct payment under this section whenever it appears, in the department's judgment, that direct payment will enhance the administration of the taxes imposed under this chapter. The department shall provide by rule for the issuance of a direct payment certificate to any taxpayer qualifying for direct payment of the taxes. Good faith acceptance of a direct payment certificate by a terminal operator shall relieve the marine terminal operator from any liability for the collection or payment of the taxes imposed under this chapter.

(9) All receipts from the tax imposed in subsection (1) of this section shall be deposited into the state oil spill response account. All receipts from the tax imposed in subsection (2) of this section shall be deposited into the oil spill administration account.

(10) Within forty-five days after the end of each calendar quarter, the office of financial management shall determine the balance of the oil spill response account as of the last day of that calendar quarter. Balance determinations by the office of financial management under this section are final and shall not be used to challenge the validity of any tax imposed under this chapter. The office of financial management shall promptly notify the departments of revenue and ecology of the account balance once a determination is made. For each subsequent calendar quarter, the tax imposed by subsection (1) of this section shall be imposed during the entire calendar quarter unless:

(a) Tax was imposed under subsection (1) of this section during the immediately preceding calendar quarter, and the most recent quarterly balance is more than ((~~ten~~)) eight million dollars; or

(b) Tax was not imposed under subsection (1) of this section during the immediately preceding calendar quarter, and the most recent quarterly balance is more than ((~~nine~~)) seven million dollars.

Sec. 2. RCW 90.56.510 and 1997 c 449 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The oil spill administration account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from RCW 82.23B.020(2) shall be deposited in the account. Moneys from the account may be spent only after appropriation. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW. If, on the first day of any calendar month, the balance of the oil spill response account is greater than ((~~ten~~)) eight million dollars and the balance of the oil spill administration account exceeds the unexpended appropriation for the current biennium, then the tax under RCW 82.23B.020(2) shall be suspended on the first day of the next calendar month until the beginning of the following biennium, provided that the tax shall not be suspended during the last six months of the biennium. If the tax imposed under RCW 82.23B.020(2) is suspended during two consecutive biennia, the department shall by November 1st after the end of the second biennium, recommend to the appropriate standing committees an adjustment in the tax rate. For the biennium ending June 30, ((~~1997~~)) 1999, and the biennium ending June 30, 2001, the state treasurer may transfer a total of up to ((~~$1,718,000~~)) one million dollars from the oil spill response account to the oil spill administration account to support appropriations made from the oil spill administration account in the omnibus ((~~and transportation~~)) appropriations act((s)) adopted not later than June 30, ((~~1997~~)) 1999.

(2) Expenditures from the oil spill administration account shall be used exclusively for the administrative costs related to the purposes of this chapter, and chapters 90.48, 88.40, and 88.46 RCW. Starting with the 1995-1997 biennium, the legislature shall give activities of state agencies related to prevention of oil spills priority in funding from the oil spill administration account. Costs of administration include the costs of:

(a) Routine responses not covered under RCW 90.56.500;

(b) Management and staff development activities;

(d) Facility and vessel plan review and approval, drills, inspections, investigations, enforcement, and litigation;

(e) Interagency coordination and public outreach and education;

(f) Collection and administration of the tax provided for in chapter 82.23B RCW; and

(g) Appropriate travel, goods and services, contracts, and equipment.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The department of ecology shall form the Washington waters oil spill risk reduction work group. The work group shall make recommendations to the legislature for an oil spill risk management plan for all Washington shipping corridors.

The work group shall identify risk reduction measures already in place and build upon this work and the work of the scoping risk assessment, the evaluation of the international tug of opportunity system, current state and canadian studies pertaining to marine safety and environmental protection in the Puget Sound area, the United States coast guard cost-benefit analysis of extending escorts or establishing a dedicated rescue tug, the port access route study, and other studies concerning marine safety issues.

The department of ecology and the United States coast guard, consistent with the provisions of their memorandum of understanding, shall chair the work group. The work group membership shall include a representative from port districts, oil refineries, cargo vessels, tug and barge operators, marine oil transport, tribes, environmental organizations, counties, cities, and shellfish growers. The work group shall include representation from each of the four primary caucuses, selected by the co-speakers of the house of representatives and the senate majority and minority leader. The department of ecology shall also attempt to gain representation from the province of British Columbia.

The work group will discuss and develop a recommended risk management plan for the north Puget Sound marine corridor area after taking into consideration the input from existing information and studies, ongoing initiatives, and the reports of the various stakeholders and experts. The work group will provide their recommendations, including possible funding, to the legislature by December 1, 1999.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.