BILL REQ. #:  S-4184.1 

Read first time 01/13/2006.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to research and services for special purpose districts; amending RCW 66.08.190; and adding new sections to chapter 43.110 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 43.110 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The municipal research council shall contract for the provision of research and services to special purpose districts. A contract for at least three FTEs shall be made with a state agency, educational institution, or private consulting firm, that in the judgment of council members is qualified to provide such research and services.
     (2) Research and services to special purpose districts shall consist of: (a) Studying and researching issues relating to special purpose district government; and (b) furnishing legal, technical, consultative, and field services to special purpose districts concerning issues relating to special purpose district government.
     (3) The activities, programs, and services of the municipal research council to special purpose districts shall be carried on in cooperation with the associations representing the various special purpose districts. Services to special purpose districts shall be based upon the moneys appropriated to the municipal research council from the special purpose district research services account under section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.110 RCW to read as follows:
     A special account is created in the state treasury to be known as the special purpose district research services account. The account shall consist of all money transferred or appropriated to the account by the legislature. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. The account is subject to the allotment process under chapter 43.88 RCW.
     Moneys in the special purpose district research services account may be expended only to finance the costs of special purpose district research and services.

Sec. 3   RCW 66.08.190 and 2003 1st sp.s. c 25 s 927 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except for revenues generated by the 2003 surcharge of $0.42/liter on retail sales of spirits that shall be distributed to the state general fund during the 2003-2005 biennium, when excess funds are distributed, all moneys subject to distribution shall be disbursed as follows:
     (a) Three-tenths of one percent to border areas under RCW 66.08.195; and
     (b) From the amount remaining after distribution under (a) of this subsection, (i) fifty percent to the general fund of the state, (ii) ten percent to the counties of the state, and (iii) forty percent to the incorporated cities and towns of the state.
     (2) During the months of June, September, December, and March of each year, prior to disbursing the distribution to incorporated cities and towns under subsection (1)(b) of this section, the treasurer shall deduct from that distribution an amount that will fund that quarter's allotments under RCW 43.88.110 from any legislative appropriation from the city and town research services account. The treasurer shall deposit the amount deducted into the city and town research services account.
     (3) During the months of June, September, December, and March of each year, prior to disbursing the distribution to the general fund of the state under subsection (1)(b) of this section, the treasurer shall deduct from that distribution an amount that will fund that quarter's allotments under RCW 43.88.110 from any legislative appropriation from the special purpose district research services account. The treasurer shall deposit the amount deducted into the special purpose district research services account.
     (4) The governor may notify and direct the state treasurer to withhold the revenues to which the counties and cities are entitled under this section if the counties or cities are found to be in noncompliance pursuant to RCW 36.70A.340.