BILL REQ. #:  S-2335.1 

Read first time 03/12/2003.   Referred to Committee on Highways & Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to regional transportation investment districts; and amending RCW 36.120.050 and 47.05.022.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 36.120.050 and 2002 c 56 s 105 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A regional transportation investment district planning committee may, as part of a regional transportation investment plan, recommend the imposition of some or all of the following revenue sources, which a regional transportation investment district may impose upon approval of the voters as provided in this chapter:
     (a) A regional sales and use tax, as specified in RCW 82.14.430, of up to 0.5 percent of the selling price, in the case of a sales tax, or value of the article used, in the case of a use tax, upon the occurrence of any taxable event in the regional transportation investment district;
     (b) A local option vehicle license fee, as specified under RCW 82.80.100, of up to one hundred dollars per vehicle registered in the district. As used in this subsection, "vehicle" means motor vehicle as defined in RCW 46.04.320. Certain classes of vehicles, as defined under chapter 46.04 RCW, may be exempted from this fee;
     (c) A parking tax under RCW 82.80.030;
     (d) A local motor vehicle excise tax under RCW 81.100.060 and chapter 81.104 RCW;
     (e) An employer excise tax under RCW 81.100.030; and
     (f) Vehicle tolls on new or reconstructed facilities. Unless otherwise specified by law, the department shall administer the collection of vehicle tolls on designated facilities, and the state transportation commission, or its successor, shall be the tolling authority.
     (2) Taxes, fees, and tolls may not be imposed without an affirmative vote of the majority of the voters within the boundaries of the district voting on a ballot proposition as set forth in RCW 36.120.070. Revenues from these taxes and fees may be used only to implement the plan as set forth in this chapter. A district may contract with the state department of revenue or other appropriate entities for administration and collection of any of the taxes or fees authorized in this section.
     (3) District tax revenue must be allocated proportionately to the member counties based on the share of tax revenue each county generates. The tax revenue allocated to a county must be used to finance costs incurred for projects within the county.
     (4) Existing statewide motor vehicle fuel and special fuel taxes, at the distribution rates in effect on January 1, 2001, are not intended to be altered by this chapter.

Sec. 2   RCW 47.05.022 and 2002 c 56 s 302 are each amended to read as follows:
     The ((legislature designates)) following highways are of statewide significance:
     (1) That portion of state route number 509 that runs or will run from state route number 518 in the north to the intersection with interstate 5 in the south ((as a state highway of statewide significance));
     (2) The cross-base highway, state route number 704, beginning at a junction with state route number 5 in south Pierce county, thence easterly across Fort Lewis to a junction with state route number 7.