Read first time 01/27/2005.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to prohibiting automatic fee increases; and amending RCW 43.135.055.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 43.135.055 and 2001 c 314 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) No fee may increase in any fiscal year by a percentage in excess of the fiscal growth factor for that fiscal year without prior legislative approval.
     (2) No fee may be increased through the use of an automatic escalation clause, such as by fiscal growth factor or the consumer price index, without prior legislative approval.
     (3) This section does not apply to an assessment made by an agricultural commodity commission or board created by state statute or created under a marketing agreement or order under chapter 15.65 or 15.66 RCW, or to the forest products commission, if the assessment is approved by referendum in accordance with the provisions of the statutes creating the commission or board or chapter 15.65 or 15.66 RCW for approving such assessments.