[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to funding local government research services; and amending RCW 43.110.050, 66.08.190, 82.08.170, and 43.110.060.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 43.110.050 and 1997 c 437 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A special account is created in the state treasury to be known as the county research services account. The account shall consist of all money transferred to the account under RCW 82.08.170 or otherwise transferred or appropriated to the account by the legislature. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. The account is subject to the allotment process under chapter 43.88 RCW.

Moneys in the county research services account may be expended only to finance the costs of county research.

(2) All unobligated moneys remaining in the account at the end of the fiscal biennium shall be distributed by the treasurer to the counties of the state in the same manner as the distribution under RCW 82.08.170(1)(a).

Sec. 2. RCW 66.08.190 and 2000 c 227 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) When excess funds are distributed, all moneys subject to distribution shall be disbursed as follows:

(a) Three-tenths of one percent to border areas under RCW 66.08.195; and

(b) From the amount remaining after distribution under (a) of this subsection, (i) fifty percent to the general fund of the state, (ii) ten percent to the counties of the state, and (iii) forty percent to the incorporated cities and towns of the state.

(2) During the months of ((~~July, October, January, and April~~)) June, September, December, and March of each year, prior to disbursing the distribution to incorporated cities and towns under subsection (1)(b) of this section, the treasurer shall deduct from that distribution an amount that((~~, when combined with any cash balance in the city and town research services account,~~)) will fund that quarter's allotments under RCW 43.88.110 from any legislative appropriation from the city and town research services account. The treasurer shall deposit the amount deducted into the city and town research services account.

(3) The governor may notify and direct the state treasurer to withhold the revenues to which the counties and cities are entitled under this section if the counties or cities are found to be in noncompliance pursuant to RCW 36.70A.340.

Sec. 3. RCW 82.08.170 and 1997 c 437 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) During the months of January, April, July and October of each year, the state treasurer shall make the apportionment and distribution of all moneys in the liquor excise tax fund to the counties, cities and towns in the following proportions: (a) Twenty percent of the moneys in ((~~said~~)) the liquor excise tax fund shall be divided among and distributed to the counties of the state in accordance with the provisions of RCW 66.08.200; and (b) eighty percent of the moneys in ((~~said~~)) the liquor excise tax fund shall be divided among and distributed to the cities and towns of the state in accordance with the provisions of RCW 66.08.210.

(2) Each fiscal quarter and prior to making the twenty percent distribution to counties under subsection (1)(a) of this section, the treasurer shall transfer to the county research services account under RCW 43.110.050 sufficient moneys ((~~that, when combined with any cash balance in the account, will~~)) to fund the allotments from any legislative appropriations from the county research services account.

Sec. 4. RCW 43.110.060 and 2000 c 227 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The city and town research services account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account shall consist of amounts transferred under RCW 66.08.190(2) and any other transfers or appropriations to the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after an appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for city and town research.

All unobligated moneys remaining in the account at the end of the fiscal biennium shall be distributed by the treasurer to the incorporated cities and towns of the state in the same manner as the distribution under RCW 66.08.190(1)(b)(iii).

The treasurer may disburse amounts appropriated to the municipal research council from the city and town research services account by warrant or check to the contracting parties on invoices or vouchers certified by the chair of the municipal research council or his or her designee. Payments to public agencies may be made in advance of actual work contracted for, at the discretion of the council.