HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1742
As Reported by House Committee On:
Trade & Economic Development
Title: An act relating to public facilities districts.
Brief Description: Including sports and recreation facilities in public facilities districts' authority.
Sponsors: Representatives Rockefeller, Eickmeyer, McIntire, Lantz, Woods and Haigh.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Trade & Economic Development: 2/18/03, 2/21/03 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
• Authorizes a public facilities district created after January 1, 2000, to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair and operate a sports and recreation facility. |
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Veloria, Chair; Eickmeyer, Vice Chair; Skinner, Ranking Minority Member; McDonald, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Chase, McCoy, Pettigrew and Priest.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Condotta and Kristiansen.
Staff: Tracey Taylor (786-7196).
Background:
A public facilities district may be created upon adoption of a resolution by the county legislative authority in which the proposed district is located. A public facilities district is a municipal corporation, and independent taxing authority within the meaning of Article VII, Section 1 of the State Constitution, and a taxing district within the meaning of Article VII, Section 2 of the State Constitution. A public facilities district is a body corporate and possesses all the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes or specially conferred by statute.
A public facilities district is authorized to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair, and operate sports facilities, entertainment facilities, convention facilities or regional centers, together with contiguous parking facilities.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
A public facilities district created after January 1, 2000, may acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair and operate regional centers which include sports and recreation facilities, entertainment facilities, or convention facilities.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The substitute bill defines regional centers for public facilities districts formed after
January 1, 2000, as sports and recreation facilities, entertainment facilities or convention facilities.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not Requested.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This bill does not simply broaden what a public facilities district can do, but broadens the benefits to a community. This is about improving the quality of life of a particular public facilities district.
(With concerns) There is a need to limit the scope of the bill. Public facilities districts are intended to accomplish things that are too large for a single smaller local government to do on its own.
Testimony Against:
Testified: (In support) Representative Rockefeller, prime sponsor; and Anne Blair and Rick Smith, Kitsap Public Facilities District.
(With concerns) Todd Mielke, Spokane Public Facilities District.