BILL REQ. #:  S-2311.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/02/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to maintenance and repair of minor league baseball facilities; adding a new section to chapter 67.70 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.14 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that minor league baseball is a wholesome, affordable family-oriented activity that has a rich history in the state of Washington. The legislature desires to provide local governments with assistance to ensure that this important pastime remains available to Washington citizens.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 67.70 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The minor league baseball account is created in the state treasury. Money in the minor league baseball account shall be distributed only after appropriation, and only to a governmental agency responsible for the operation of a minor league baseball stadium as defined under subsection (2) of this section. Money shall be distributed on a per capita basis based on the population of the city in which the minor league baseball stadium is located as determined by the office of financial management on the effective date of this act. Money distributed from the minor league baseball account shall be used solely for the purpose of paying for the capital improvement, rehabilitation, financing, equipping, and reequipping of a minor league baseball stadium and associated parking facilities.
     (2) "Minor league baseball stadium" is any public facility existing and in use on the effective date of this act in which a minor league baseball team affiliated with a major league baseball club has operated for at least a portion of the previous two years.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 82.14 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislative authority of a county in which a minor league baseball team plays in an existing minor league baseball stadium may impose a special stadium sales and use tax upon retail car rentals within the county that are taxable by the state under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW. The rate of the tax shall not exceed two percent of the selling price in the case of a sales tax, or rental value of the vehicle in the case of a use tax. The tax imposed under this section is in addition to any other taxes authorized by law and shall not be credited against any other tax imposed upon the same taxable event. The revenue generated by the tax imposed in this section shall be used solely for the purpose of paying for the operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, financing, equipping, and reequipping of a minor league baseball stadium and associated parking facilities.
     (2) "Minor league baseball stadium" has the same meaning as provided in section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislative authority of a city or town in which a minor league baseball team plays in an existing minor league baseball stadium may impose a tax of up to one cent on twenty cents or fraction thereof to be paid by the person who pays an admission charge to the events in the minor league baseball stadium. The tax authorized in this section may also be imposed on any parking charges or fees imposed in parking facilities associated with the minor league baseball stadium. The revenue generated by the tax imposed in this section shall be used solely for the purpose of paying for the operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, financing, equipping, and reequipping of a minor league baseball stadium and associated parking facilities. The tax authorized in this section is in addition to any other taxes on admission levied by the city.
     (2) "Minor league baseball stadium" has the same meaning as provided in section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.