[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the impact of extraordinary criminal justice expenses on counties and cities; amending RCW 82.14.310, 82.14.320, and 82.14.330; and adding new sections to chapter 82.14 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 82.14 RCW to read as follows:

The extraordinary county criminal justice assistance account is created in the state treasury. Funds from the account may be expended, without appropriation, by direction of the governor, to reimburse counties for the extraordinary costs associated with the investigation, prosecution, indigent defense, jury impanelment, expert witnesses, interpreters, incarceration, and other adjudication costs of specific criminal cases which the governor determines, based on recommendations by the Washington state association of counties, constitute extraordinary burdens on the counties affected. In making the determinations and recommendations, the governor and the association shall consider, but are not limited to considering, such factors as disproportionate fiscal impact relative to the county budget, efficient use of resources, and whether the costs are extraordinary and could not be reasonably accommodated and anticipated in the normal budget process. Funds not expended from the account at the end of each fiscal year shall be transferred to the county criminal justice assistance account for distribution under RCW 82.14.310(2).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 82.14 RCW to read as follows:

The extraordinary municipal criminal justice assistance account is created in the state treasury. Funds from the account may be expended, without appropriation, by direction of the governor, to reimburse cities for the extraordinary costs associated with the investigation of specific criminal cases which the governor determines, based on recommendations by the association of Washington cities, constitute extraordinary burdens on the cities affected. In making the determinations and recommendations, the governor and the association shall consider, but are not limited to considering, such factors as disproportionate fiscal impact relative to the city budget, efficient use of resources, and whether the costs are extraordinary and could not be reasonably accommodated and anticipated in the normal budget process. Funds not expended from the account at the end of each fiscal year shall be transferred to the municipal criminal justice assistance account, one-half for distribution under RCW 82.14.320(3) and one-half for distribution under RCW 82.14.330.

Sec. 3. RCW 82.14.310 and 1998 c 321 s 11 (Referendum Bill No. 49) are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The county criminal justice assistance account is created in the state treasury. Beginning in fiscal year 2000, the state treasurer shall transfer into the county criminal justice assistance account from the general fund the sum of ((~~twenty-three~~)) twenty million two hundred thousand dollars, and into the extraordinary county criminal justice assistance account the sum of three million dollars, each sum divided into four equal deposits occurring on July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1. For each fiscal year thereafter, the state treasurer shall increase the total transfer by the fiscal growth factor, as defined in RCW 43.135.025, forecast for that fiscal year by the office of financial management in November of the preceding year.

(2) The moneys deposited in the county criminal justice assistance account for distribution under this section, less any moneys appropriated for purposes under subsection (4) of this section, shall be distributed at such times as distributions are made under RCW 82.44.150 and on the relative basis of each county's funding factor as determined under this subsection.

(a) A county's funding factor is the sum of:

(i) The population of the county, divided by one thousand, and multiplied by two-tenths;

(ii) The crime rate of the county, multiplied by three-tenths; and

(iii) The annual number of criminal cases filed in the county superior court, for each one thousand in population, multiplied by five-tenths.

(b) Under this section and RCW 82.14.320 and 82.14.330:

(i) The population of the county or city shall be as last determined by the office of financial management;

(ii) The crime rate of the county or city is the annual occurrence of specified criminal offenses, as calculated in the most recent annual report on crime in Washington state as published by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, for each one thousand in population;

(iii) The annual number of criminal cases filed in the county superior court shall be determined by the most recent annual report of the courts of Washington, as published by the office of the administrator for the courts;

(iv) Distributions and eligibility for distributions in the 1989‑91 biennium shall be based on 1988 figures for both the crime rate as described under (ii) of this subsection and the annual number of criminal cases that are filed as described under (iii) of this subsection. Future distributions shall be based on the most recent figures for both the crime rate as described under (ii) of this subsection and the annual number of criminal cases that are filed as described under (iii) of this subsection.

(3) Moneys distributed under this section shall be expended exclusively for criminal justice purposes and shall not be used to replace or supplant existing funding. Criminal justice purposes are defined as activities that substantially assist the criminal justice system, which may include circumstances where ancillary benefit to the civil justice system occurs, and which includes domestic violence services such as those provided by domestic violence programs, community advocates, and legal advocates, as defined in RCW 70.123.020. Existing funding for purposes of this subsection is defined as calendar year 1989 actual operating expenditures for criminal justice purposes. Calendar year 1989 actual operating expenditures for criminal justice purposes exclude the following: Expenditures for extraordinary events not likely to reoccur, changes in contract provisions for criminal justice services, beyond the control of the local jurisdiction receiving the services, and major nonrecurring capital expenditures.

(4) Not more than five percent of the funds deposited to the county criminal justice assistance account shall be available for appropriations for enhancements to the state patrol crime laboratory system and the continuing costs related to these enhancements. Funds appropriated from this account for such enhancements shall not supplant existing funds from the state general fund.

Sec. 4. RCW 82.14.320 and 1998 c 321 s 12 (Referendum Bill No. 49) are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The municipal criminal justice assistance account is created in the state treasury. Beginning in fiscal year 2000, the state treasurer shall transfer into the municipal criminal justice assistance account for distribution under this section from the general fund the sum of four million ((~~six hundred thousand~~)) dollars, and into the extraordinary municipal criminal justice assistance account the sum of six hundred thousand dollars, each sum divided into four equal deposits occurring on July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1. For each fiscal year thereafter, the state treasurer shall increase the total transfer by the fiscal growth factor, as defined in RCW 43.135.025, forecast for that fiscal year by the office of financial management in November of the preceding year.

(2) No city may receive a distribution under this section from the municipal criminal justice assistance account unless:

(a) The city has a crime rate in excess of one hundred twenty-five percent of the state-wide average as calculated in the most recent annual report on crime in Washington state as published by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs;

(b) The city has levied the tax authorized in RCW 82.14.030(2) at the maximum rate or the tax authorized in RCW 82.46.010(3) at the maximum rate; and

(c) The city has a per capita yield from the tax imposed under RCW 82.14.030(1) at the maximum rate of less than one hundred fifty percent of the state-wide average per capita yield for all cities from such local sales and use tax.

(3) The moneys deposited in the municipal criminal justice assistance account for distribution under this section, less any moneys appropriated for purposes under subsection (7) of this section, shall be distributed at such times as distributions are made under RCW 82.44.150. The distributions shall be made as follows:

(a) Unless reduced by this subsection, thirty percent of the moneys shall be distributed ratably based on population as last determined by the office of financial management to those cities eligible under subsection (2) of this section that have a crime rate determined under subsection (2)(a) of this section which is greater than one hundred seventy-five percent of the state-wide average crime rate. No city may receive more than fifty percent of any moneys distributed under this subsection (a) but, if a city distribution is reduced as a result of exceeding the fifty percent limitation, the amount not distributed shall be distributed under (b) of this subsection.

(b) The remainder of the moneys, including any moneys not distributed in subsection (2)(a) of this section, shall be distributed to all cities eligible under subsection (2) of this section ratably based on population as last determined by the office of financial management.

(4) No city may receive more than thirty percent of all moneys distributed under subsection (3) of this section.

(5) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the distributions to any city that substantially decriminalizes or repeals its criminal code after July 1, 1990, and that does not reimburse the county for costs associated with criminal cases under RCW 3.50.800 or 3.50.805(2), shall be made to the county in which the city is located.

(6) Moneys distributed under this section shall be expended exclusively for criminal justice purposes and shall not be used to replace or supplant existing funding. Criminal justice purposes are defined as activities that substantially assist the criminal justice system, which may include circumstances where ancillary benefit to the civil justice system occurs, and which includes domestic violence services such as those provided by domestic violence programs, community advocates, and legal advocates, as defined in RCW 70.123.020, and publications and public educational efforts designed to provide information and assistance to parents in dealing with runaway or at-risk youth. Existing funding for purposes of this subsection is defined as calendar year 1989 actual operating expenditures for criminal justice purposes. Calendar year 1989 actual operating expenditures for criminal justice purposes exclude the following: Expenditures for extraordinary events not likely to reoccur, changes in contract provisions for criminal justice services, beyond the control of the local jurisdiction receiving the services, and major nonrecurring capital expenditures.

(7) Not more than five percent of the funds deposited to the municipal criminal justice assistance account shall be available for appropriations for enhancements to the state patrol crime laboratory system and the continuing costs related to these enhancements. Funds appropriated from this account for such enhancements shall not supplant existing funds from the state general fund.

Sec. 5. RCW 82.14.330 and 1998 c 321 s 13 (Referendum Bill No. 49) are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Beginning in fiscal year 2000, the state treasurer shall transfer into the municipal criminal justice assistance account for distribution under this section from the general fund the sum of four million ((~~six hundred thousand~~)) dollars, and into the extraordinary municipal criminal justice assistance account the sum of six hundred thousand dollars, each sum divided into four equal deposits occurring on July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1. For each fiscal year thereafter, the state treasurer shall increase the total transfer by the fiscal growth factor, as defined in RCW 43.135.025, forecast for that fiscal year by the office of financial management in November of the preceding year. The moneys deposited in the municipal criminal justice assistance account for distribution under this section, less any moneys appropriated for purposes under subsection (4) of this section, shall be distributed to the cities of the state as follows:

(a) Twenty percent appropriated for distribution shall be distributed to cities with a three-year average violent crime rate for each one thousand in population in excess of one hundred fifty percent of the state-wide three-year average violent crime rate for each one thousand in population. The three-year average violent crime rate shall be calculated using the violent crime rates for each of the preceding three years from the annual reports on crime in Washington state as published by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs. Moneys shall be distributed under this subsection (1)(a) ratably based on population as last determined by the office of financial management, but no city may receive more than one dollar per capita. Moneys remaining undistributed under this subsection at the end of each calendar year shall be distributed to the criminal justice training commission to reimburse participating city law enforcement agencies with ten or fewer full-time commissioned patrol officers the cost of temporary replacement of each officer who is enrolled in basic law enforcement training, as provided in RCW 43.101.200.

(b) Sixteen percent shall be distributed to cities ratably based on population as last determined by the office of financial management, but no city may receive less than one thousand dollars.

The moneys deposited in the municipal criminal justice assistance account for distribution under this subsection shall be distributed at such times as distributions are made under RCW 82.44.150.

Moneys distributed under this subsection shall be expended exclusively for criminal justice purposes and shall not be used to replace or supplant existing funding. Criminal justice purposes are defined as activities that substantially assist the criminal justice system, which may include circumstances where ancillary benefit to the civil justice system occurs, and which includes domestic violence services such as those provided by domestic violence programs, community advocates, and legal advocates, as defined in RCW 70.123.020. Existing funding for purposes of this subsection is defined as calendar year 1989 actual operating expenditures for criminal justice purposes. Calendar year 1989 actual operating expenditures for criminal justice purposes exclude the following: Expenditures for extraordinary events not likely to reoccur, changes in contract provisions for criminal justice services, beyond the control of the local jurisdiction receiving the services, and major nonrecurring capital expenditures.

(2) In addition to the distributions under subsection (1) of this section:

(a) Fourteen percent shall be distributed to cities that have initiated innovative law enforcement strategies, including alternative sentencing and crime prevention programs. No city may receive more than one dollar per capita under this subsection (2)(a).

(b) Twenty percent shall be distributed to cities that have initiated programs to help at-risk children or child abuse victim response programs. No city may receive more than fifty cents per capita under this subsection (2)(b).

(c) Twenty percent shall be distributed to cities that have initiated programs designed to reduce the level of domestic violence within their jurisdictions or to provide counseling for domestic violence victims. No city may receive more than fifty cents per capita under this subsection (2)(c).

(d) Ten percent shall be distributed to cities that contract with another governmental agency for a majority of the city's law enforcement services.

Moneys distributed under this subsection shall be distributed to those cities that submit funding requests under this subsection to the department of community, trade, and economic development based on criteria developed under RCW 82.14.335. Allocation of funds shall be in proportion to the population of qualified jurisdictions, but the distribution to a city shall not exceed the amount of funds requested. Cities shall submit requests for program funding to the department of community, trade, and economic development by November 1 of each year for funding the following year. The department shall certify to the state treasurer the cities eligible for funding under this subsection and the amount of each allocation.

The moneys deposited in the municipal criminal justice assistance account for distribution under this subsection, less any moneys appropriated for purposes under subsection (4) of this section, shall be distributed at the times as distributions are made under RCW 82.44.150. Moneys remaining undistributed under this subsection at the end of each calendar year shall be distributed to the criminal justice training commission to reimburse participating city law enforcement agencies with ten or fewer full-time commissioned patrol officers the cost of temporary replacement of each officer who is enrolled in basic law enforcement training, as provided in RCW 43.101.200.

If a city is found by the state auditor to have expended funds received under this subsection in a manner that does not comply with the criteria under which the moneys were received, the city shall be ineligible to receive future distributions under this subsection until the use of the moneys are justified to the satisfaction of the director or are repaid to the state general fund. The director may allow noncomplying use of moneys received under this subsection upon a showing of hardship or other emergent need.

(3) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the distributions to any city that substantially decriminalizes or repeals its criminal code after July 1, 1990, and that does not reimburse the county for costs associated with criminal cases under RCW 3.50.800 or 3.50.805(2), shall be made to the county in which the city is located.

(4) Not more than five percent of the funds deposited to the municipal criminal justice assistance account shall be available for appropriations for enhancements to the state patrol crime laboratory system and the continuing costs related to these enhancements. Funds appropriated from this account for such enhancements shall not supplant existing funds from the state general fund.