BILL REQ. #:  S-2552.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/05/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to certificate of capital authorization; and amending RCW 74.46.803 and 74.46.807.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 74.46.803 and 2001 1st sp.s. c 8 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:
     The department shall establish rules for issuing a certificate of capital authorization. Applications for a certificate of capital authorization shall be submitted and approved on a biennial basis. The rules for a certificate of capital authorization shall be consistent with the following principles:
     (1) ((The certificate of capital authorization shall be approved on a first-come, first-served basis.
     (2) Those projects that do not receive approval in one authorization period shall have priority the following biennium should the project be resubmitted.
     (3))) In processing and approving certificates of capital authorization, priority shall be given to construction or major renovation of existing facilities or replacement facilities. Those existing or replacement facilities with the greatest length of time between its last major renovation or construction shall be given first priority. A certificate of capital authorization is only required for capital expenditures exceeding the expenditure minimum as defined in RCW 70.38.025.
     (2) Certificates of capital authorization for new facilities shall receive last priority and be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
     (3) Certificate of capital authorization applications must be filed with the department by the end of the previous state fiscal year to be considered for priority assignment in the following state fiscal year beginning July 1st. Within ninety days of receipt of an application, the department shall either reject the application as unacceptable or act upon it. To the extent that the annual capital authorization level is not reached through such priority assignment, subsequently completed certificate of capital authorization applications shall be approved on a first-come, first-served basis through the fiscal year.
     (4) The department shall have the authority to give first priority for a project that is necessitated by an emergency situation even if the project is not submitted in a timely fashion. ((The department shall establish rules for determining what constitutes an emergency.)) Projects shall be considered on an emergency basis if the construction or renovation must be completed as soon as possible to:
     (a) Retain a facility's license or certification;
     (b) Protect the health or safety of the facility's residents; or
     (c) Avoid closure.
     (((4))) (5) The department shall establish deadlines for progress and the department shall have the authority to withdraw the certificate of capital authorization where the holder of the certificate has not complied with those deadlines in a good faith manner. A project that is not completed and ready for occupancy by the last day of the fiscal year for which the certificate of capital authorization was issued shall be given an extended completion deadline if it can be established that substantial and continuing progress toward commencement of the project has been made.

Sec. 2   RCW 74.46.807 and 2001 1st sp.s. c 8 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:
     The total minimum capital authorization available for any ((biennial)) state fiscal year period shall be specified in the biennial appropriations act and shall be calculated on an annual basis. When setting the capital authorization level, the legislature shall consider both the need for, and the cost of, new and replacement beds.