Title: An act relating to research and services for special purpose districts.

Brief Description: Providing research and services for special purpose districts.

Sponsors: Senators Prentice, Haugen, Mulliken, Berkey, Kastama and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 1/24/06, 1/26/06 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6555 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Fairley, Hewitt, Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Pflug, Pridemore, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Thibaudeau.

Staff: Brian Sims (786-7431)

Background: The Municipal Research Council provides research services to counties, and cities and towns. A portion of the liquor tax is deposited into the county research services account and the city and town research services account. The amount deposited is specified in the biennial operating appropriation act. The funds must only be used to support the research services provided by the council to the respective category of local government.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The bill adds special purpose districts as a category of local government that may be served by the Municipal Research Council. An additional portion of the liquor tax is transferred to the new special purpose district research services account. The amount would be specified in the biennial appropriations act. Funds from this account must only be spent on research for special purpose districts.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute bill includes acquiring, preparing, and distributing publications to the list of services to be provided to special purpose districts. Eliminates the requirement that at least three FTE shall be the contracted level.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: Many small special purpose district do not have the professional staff necessary to comply with many of the basic legal requirements of governmental agencies. The municipal research service is an efficient way to provide these necessary legal and research services.

Testimony Against: None.

Testimony Other: This would be beneficial for special purpose districts but the cost for these services should not be subsidized by funds provided by cities and towns.

Who Testified: PRO: Ginger Eagle, Washington Public Ports Association; Pat Jones, Washington Public Ports Association; Roger Ferris, Washington Fire Commissioners Association.

OTHER: Jim Justin, Association of Washington cities.