Brief Description: Clarifying permitted uses of moneys currently collected under the county legislative authority sales and use tax for chemical dependency or mental health treatment programs and services or therapeutic courts.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Hargrove, Stevens and Marr).

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections
House Committee on Health Care & Wellness

Background: In 2005 the Legislature passed E2SSB 5763 (C 504 L 05 PV) which gave county legislative authorities permission to impose a sales and use tax of one tenth of 1 percent for the purpose of providing new or expanded chemical dependency or mental health treatment services and for the operation of new or expanded therapeutic court programs.

Summary: It is clarified that moneys collected under the sales and use tax authorized by E2SSB 5763 may be used for the operation or delivery of programs and services. Moneys collected by the sales and use tax may be used to replace lapsed federal funding previously provided for the operation or delivery of chemical dependency or mental health treatment services and programs.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      45   0
House      93   0

Effective: June 12, 2008