Brief Description: Limiting the use of the public safety and education account.

Sponsors: Representative Sommers; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Hearing Date: 1/24/05

Staff: Nona Snell (786-7153).

Background:

The Public Safety and Education Account (PSEA) was created in 1984. Allowable uses for the account include highway safety, criminal justice training, crime victims' compensation, judicial education, and the judicial information system. The largest source of revenue deposited into the account is traffic infraction penalties. Total projected expenditures from the PSEA for the 2003-2005 biennium are $186,580,000.

Summary of Bill:

Revenue sources currently deposited into the PSEA are instead deposited in the state general fund. The allowable uses of the account are limited to debt service obligations for bonds issued to finance projects authorized by the Legislature in the 1997-99 biennium capital and operating appropriations acts. Funds are transferred annually from the state general fund to the PSEA in the amount necessary to satisfy the bond debt service.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 2005.