FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6314

C 252 L 04

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning the community economic revitalization board.

Sponsors: Senators T. Sheldon, Hale, Kohl-Welles, Swecker, Eide, Thibaudeau, Finkbeiner, Brown, B. Sheldon, Shin, Franklin, Regala, Keiser, Doumit, Prentice, McAuliffe, Fraser, Kline, Winsley, Mulliken and Rasmussen.

Senate Committee on Economic Development

House Committee on Trade & Economic Development

Background: The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) was created in 1982 to provide funding for publicly-owned economic development infrastructure. Through CERB, direct loans and grants are available to counties, cities, and special purpose districts for feasibility studies and for public improvements such as the acquisition, construction, or repair of water and sewer systems, bridges, railroad spurs, telecommunication systems, roads, structures, and port facilities. CERB funds are only made available if a specific private development or expansion is ready to occur and will occur only if the public improvements are made.

The board membership is made up of 11 members appointed by the Governor, four nonvoting ex officio members, and one member from each of the two major caucuses in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In 2002, the Legislature added federally recognized Indian tribes to the list of eligible recipients of CERB funds.

Summary: One representative of a federally recognized Indian tribe is added to the list of those board members appointed by the Governor. References to federally recognized Indian tribes are added in the definition of "public facilities," the section of the CERB statute relating to grants, and the section relating to application for assistance from the economic development account.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       49   0

House       54  42  (House amended)

Senate       46   3  (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 10, 2004