BP BHEAD INT H [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the funding and delivery of local government services; adding a new section to chapter 43.17 RCW; creating new sections; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

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.

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.

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

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 695.

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

(a) The following eight members of the house of representatives or their designees: (i) The cochairs of the committee on appropriations; (ii) the cochairs of the committee on capital budget; (iii) the cochairs of the committee on finance; and (iv) the cochairs of the committee on transportation;

(b) The following eight members of the senate or their designees: (i) The chair and the ranking minority member of the committee on transportation; (ii) the chair and the ranking minority member of the committee on ways and means; and (iii) four members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, two from each political party;

(d) Two members appointed by the association of Washington cities;

(e) Two members appointed by the Washington state association of counties;

(f) Two members appointed by 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 administrative and clerical assistance 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. Six members is a quorum for a meeting or hearing. The cochairs may appoint experts and advisors as nonvoting members of the task force to provide input on various subjects. Final findings, conclusions, or recommendations of the task force must be agreed to by at least eight members. However, minority findings, conclusions, or recommendations may be included that are submitted by any member or group of members. The Open Public Meetings Act applies to all meetings and hearings of the task force. 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 and allotment of revenues; 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 and proposed legislation addressing its recommendations to the legislature by January 1, 2002.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 43.17 RCW to read as follows:

(1) No state agency may propose or adopt a rule or engage in programmatic activity, other than normal contract negotiations, that will create new costs for local governments.

(2) Before proceeding with a rule or programmatic activity, the state agency must issue a finding that determines that a rule or activity does not create any new costs for local governments. The state agency shall make the finding available to the public in both print and electronic format.

(3) This section does not preclude a state agency from proceeding with a proposed rule or programmatic activity if implementation of the rule or activity at the local government level has been fully funded through an appropriation by the legislature.

(4) For the purposes of this section, "local governments" mean towns, cities, and counties.

(5) For the purposes of this section, "costs" mean any expenses related to implementation or response to the agency rule or activity, including but not limited to review, technical assistance, planning, administration, legislative, implementation, litigation, enforcement, or rule-making expenses.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. 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.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act expires March 30, 2002.