EHB 2561 -
By Committee on Ways & Means
ADOPTED 04/12/2010
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 101 This act may be known and cited as the
jobs act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 102 The legislature intends to create jobs in
every corner of Washington state by issuing bonds, which will catalyze
energy savings and repair work at public schools and state colleges and
universities.
It is the intent of the legislature that these investments will
create jobs quickly and directly, at a time when the state's residents
need jobs. It is the further intent of the legislature that these
investments both accelerate innovation in the energy efficiency sector
and create locally developed technologies and companies to provide
sustainable jobs. The legislature intends to prioritize the use of
innovative technologies and facilitate the development of a sustainable
innovation cluster that creates and installs highly efficient building
technologies and creates jobs.
The legislature intends that these job-creating projects save
taxpayers money, with an estimated one hundred twenty-six million
dollars saved each year in public schools through reduced energy and
operational costs, and improve the health and safety of those
buildings. The energy savings are equivalent to the use of an
estimated ninety thousand houses. It is also the intent of the
legislature that these job-creating projects lead to reduced
pollutants, as the weatherization and energy efficiency projects will
reduce pollution emissions by an estimated amount equivalent to
removing an estimated one hundred thirty thousand cars from the roads
each year.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 201 (1) For the purpose of creating jobs by
constructing needed capital improvements to public facilities for
energy, utility, and operational cost savings, the state finance
committee is authorized to issue general obligation bonds of the state
of Washington in the sum of five hundred five million dollars, or so
much thereof as may be required, for this purpose and all costs
incidental thereto. The bonds issued under the authority of this
section are known as jobs act bonds.
(2) Bonds authorized in this section must be sold in the manner, at
the time or times, in amounts, and at such prices as the state finance
committee determines.
(3) The authorization to issue bonds contained in this chapter does
not expire until the full authorization has been issued.
(4) No bonds authorized in this section may be offered for sale
without prior legislative appropriation of the net proceeds of the sale
of the bonds.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 202 (1) The nondebt-limit general fund bond
retirement account must be used for the payment of the principal of and
interest on the bonds authorized in section 201 of this act.
(2) The state finance committee must, on or before June 30th of
each year, certify to the state treasurer the amount needed in the
ensuing twelve months to meet the bond retirement and interest
requirements on the bonds authorized in section 201 of this act.
(3) On each date on which any interest or principal and interest
payment is due on bonds issued for the purposes of section 201 of this
act, the state treasurer shall withdraw from any general state revenues
received in the state treasury and deposit in the nondebt-limit general
fund bond retirement account an amount equal to the amount certified by
the state finance committee to be due on the payment date.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 203 (1) Bonds issued under this section and
sections 201 and 202 of this act must state that they are a general
obligation of the state of Washington, must pledge the full faith and
credit of the state to the payment of the principal thereof and the
interest thereon, and must contain an unconditional promise to pay the
principal and interest as the same shall become due.
(2) The owner and holder of each of the bonds or the trustee for
the owner and holder of any of the bonds may by mandamus or other
appropriate proceeding require the transfer and payment of funds as
directed in this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 301 (1) The department of commerce, in
consultation with the department of general administration and the
Washington State University energy program, shall administer the jobs
act.
(2) The department of general administration must develop
guidelines that are consistent with national and international energy
savings performance standards for the implementation of energy savings
performance contracting projects by the energy savings performance
contractors by December 31, 2010.
(3) The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
and section 302 of this act unless the context clearly requires
otherwise.
(a) "Cost-effectiveness" means that the present value to higher
education institutions and school districts of the energy reasonably
expected to be saved or produced by a facility, activity, measure, or
piece of equipment over its useful life, including any compensation
received from a utility or the Bonneville power administration, is
greater than the net present value of the costs of implementing,
maintaining, and operating such facility, activity, measure, or piece
of equipment over its useful life, when discounted at the cost of
public borrowing.
(b) "Energy cost savings" means savings realized in expenses for
energy use and expenses associated with water, wastewater, or solid
waste systems.
(c) "Energy equipment" means energy management systems and any
equipment, materials, or supplies that are expected, upon installation,
to reduce the energy use or energy cost of an existing building or
facility, and the services associated with the equipment, materials, or
supplies, including but not limited to design, engineering, financing,
installation, project management, guarantees, operations, and
maintenance. Reduction in energy use or energy cost may also include
reductions in the use or cost of water, wastewater, or solid waste.
(d) "Energy savings performance contracting" means the process
authorized by chapter 39.35C RCW by which a company contracts with a
public agency to conduct energy audits and guarantee energy savings
from energy efficiency.
(e) "Innovative measures" means advanced or emerging technologies,
systems, or approaches that may not yet be in common practice but
improve energy efficiency, accelerate deployment, or reduce energy
usage, and become widely commercially available in the future if proven
successful in demonstration programs without compromising the
guaranteed performance or measurable energy and operational cost
savings anticipated. Examples of innovative measures include, but are
not limited to, advanced energy and systems operations monitoring,
diagnostics, and controls systems for buildings; novel heating,
cooling, ventilation, and water heating systems; advanced windows and
insulation technologies, highly efficient lighting technologies,
designs, and controls; and integration of renewable energy sources into
buildings, and energy savings verification technologies and solutions.
(f) "Operational cost savings" means savings realized from parts,
service fees, capital renewal costs, and other measurable annual
expenses to maintain and repair systems. This definition does not mean
labor savings related to existing facility staff.
(g) "Public facilities" means buildings, building components, and
major equipment or systems owned by public school districts and public
higher education institutions.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 302 (1) Within appropriations specifically
provided for the purposes of this chapter, the department of commerce,
in consultation with the department of general administration, and the
Washington State University energy program shall establish a
competitive process to solicit and evaluate applications from public
school districts, public higher education institutions, and other state
agencies. Final grant awards shall be determined by the department of
commerce.
(2) Grants must be awarded in competitive rounds, based on demand
and capacity, with at least five percent of each grant round awarded to
small public school districts with fewer than one thousand full-time
equivalent students, based on demand and capacity.
(3) Within each competitive round, projects must be weighted and
prioritized based on the following criteria and in the following order:
(a) Leverage ratio: In each round, the higher the leverage ratio
of nonstate funding sources to state jobs act grant, the higher the
project ranking.
(b) Energy savings: In each round, the higher the energy savings,
the higher the project ranking. Applicants must submit documentation
that demonstrates energy and operational cost savings resulting from
the installation of the energy equipment and improvements. The energy
savings analysis must be performed by a licensed engineer and
documentation must include but is not limited to the following:
(i) A description of the energy equipment and improvements;
(ii) A description of the energy and operational cost savings; and
(iii) A description of the extent to which the project employs
collaborative and innovative measures and encourages demonstration of
new and emerging technologies with high energy savings or energy cost
reductions.
(c) Expediency of expenditure: Project readiness to spend funds
must be prioritized so that the legislative intent to expend funds
quickly is met.
(4) Projects that do not use energy savings performance contracting
must: (a) Verify energy and operational cost savings, as defined in
section 301 of this act, for ten years or until the energy and
operational costs savings pay for the project, whichever is shorter;
(b) follow the department of general administration's energy savings
performance contracting project guidelines developed pursuant to
section 301 of this act; and (c) employ a licensed engineer for the
energy audit and construction. The department of commerce may require
third-party verification of savings if a project is not implemented by
an energy savings performance contractor selected by the department of
general administration through the request of qualifications process.
Third-party verification must be conducted either by an energy savings
performance contractor selected by the department of general
administration through a request for qualifications, a licensed
engineer specializing in energy conservation, or by a project resource
conservation manager or educational service district resource
conservation manager.
(5) To intensify competition, the department of commerce may only
award funds to the top eighty-five percent of projects applying in a
round until the department of commerce determines a final round is
appropriate. Projects that do not receive a grant award in one round
may reapply in subsequent rounds.
(6) To match federal grants and programs that require state
matching funds and produce significantly higher efficiencies in
operations and utilities, the level of innovation criteria may be
increased for the purposes of weighted scoring to capture those federal
dollars for selected projects that require a higher level of innovation
and regional collaboration.
(7) Grant amounts awarded to each project must allow for the
maximum number of projects funded with the greatest energy and cost
benefit.
(8)(a) The department of commerce must use bond proceeds to pay
one- half of the preliminary audit, up to five cents per square foot,
if the project does not meet the school district's and higher education
institution's predetermined cost-effectiveness criteria. School
districts and higher education institutions must pay the other one-half
of the cost of the preliminary audit if the project does not meet their
predetermined cost-effectiveness criteria.
(b) The energy savings performance contractor may not charge for an
investment grade audit if the project does not meet the school
district's and higher education institution's predetermined cost-effectiveness criteria. School districts and higher education
institutions must pay the full price of an investment grade audit if
they do not proceed with a project that meets the school district's and
higher education institution's predetermined cost-effectiveness
criteria.
(9) The department of commerce may charge projects administrative
fees and may pay the department of general administration and the
Washington State University energy program administration fees in an
amount determined through a memorandum of understanding.
(10) The department of commerce and the department of general
administration must submit a joint report to the appropriate committees
of the legislature and the office of financial management on the timing
and use of the grant funds, program administrative function, compliance
with apprenticeship utilization requirements in RCW 39.04.320,
compliance with prevailing wage requirements, and administration fees
by the end of each fiscal year, until the funds are fully expended and
all savings verification requirements are fulfilled.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 303 FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE--JOBS ACT
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following
conditions and limitations: The appropriation is for fiscal year 2011
and is provided solely for grants to public school districts and public
higher education institutions for energy and operational cost savings
improvements to public facilities and related projects that result in
energy and operational cost savings under the provision and
requirements of sections 301 and 302 of this act. Related projects are
those projects that must be completed in order for the energy
efficiency improvements to be effective.
Appropriation:
Washington Works Account--State . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000,000
Prior Biennia (Expenditures) . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
Future Biennia (Projected Costs) . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000,000
NEW SECTION. Sec. 304 The legislature intends to increase
general state revenues to pay for a portion of the increased debt
service costs for voter-approved bonds and for debt-limit bonds
authorized by the legislature for projects awarded grants under
sections 301 and 302 of this act for energy efficiency projects in
public facilities.
Sec. 305 RCW 82.08.0293 and 2010 1st sp.s. c ... (2ESSB 6143) s
902 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of food
and food ingredients. "Food and food ingredients" means substances,
whether in liquid, concentrated, solid, frozen, dried, or dehydrated
form, that are sold for ingestion or chewing by humans and are consumed
for their taste or nutritional value. "Food and food ingredients" does
not include:
(a) "Alcoholic beverages," which means beverages that are suitable
for human consumption and contain one-half of one percent or more of
alcohol by volume; and
(b) "Tobacco," which means cigarettes, cigars, chewing or pipe
tobacco, or any other item that contains tobacco.
(2) ((Until July 1, 2013,)) The exemption of "food and food
ingredients" provided for in subsection (1) of this section does not
apply to prepared food, soft drinks, bottled water, candy, or dietary
supplements. ((Beginning July 1, 2013, the exemption of "food and food
ingredients" provided for in subsection (1) of this section does not
apply to prepared food, soft drinks, candy, or dietary supplements.))
For purposes of this subsection, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Dietary supplement" means any product, other than tobacco,
intended to supplement the diet that:
(i) Contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients:
(A) A vitamin;
(B) A mineral;
(C) An herb or other botanical;
(D) An amino acid;
(E) A dietary substance for use by humans to supplement the diet by
increasing the total dietary intake; or
(F) A concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination
of any ingredient described in this subsection;
(ii) Is intended for ingestion in tablet, capsule, powder, softgel,
gelcap, or liquid form, or if not intended for ingestion in such form,
is not represented as conventional food and is not represented for use
as a sole item of a meal or of the diet; and
(iii) Is required to be labeled as a dietary supplement,
identifiable by the "supplement facts" box found on the label as
required pursuant to 21 C.F.R. Sec. 101.36, as amended or renumbered as
of January 1, 2003.
(b)(i) "Prepared food" means:
(A) Food sold in a heated state or heated by the seller;
(B) Food sold with eating utensils provided by the seller,
including plates, knives, forks, spoons, glasses, cups, napkins, or
straws. A plate does not include a container or packaging used to
transport the food; or
(C) Two or more food ingredients mixed or combined by the seller
for sale as a single item, except:
(I) Food that is only cut, repackaged, or pasteurized by the
seller; or
(II) Raw eggs, fish, meat, poultry, and foods containing these raw
animal foods requiring cooking by the consumer as recommended by the
federal food and drug administration in chapter 3, part 401.11 of The
Food Code, published by the food and drug administration, as amended or
renumbered as of January 1, 2003, so as to prevent foodborne illness.
(ii) "Prepared food" does not include the following food or food
ingredients, if the food or food ingredients are sold without eating
utensils provided by the seller:
(A) Food sold by a seller whose proper primary North American
industry classification system (NAICS) classification is manufacturing
in sector 311, except subsector 3118 (bakeries), as provided in the
"North American industry classification system -- United States, 2002";
(B) Food sold in an unheated state by weight or volume as a single
item; or
(C) Bakery items. The term "bakery items" includes bread, rolls,
buns, biscuits, bagels, croissants, pastries, donuts, Danish, cakes,
tortes, pies, tarts, muffins, bars, cookies, or tortillas.
(c) "Soft drinks" means nonalcoholic beverages that contain natural
or artificial sweeteners. Soft drinks do not include beverages that
contain: Milk or milk products; soy, rice, or similar milk
substitutes; or greater than fifty percent of vegetable or fruit juice
by volume.
(d) "Candy" means a preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural
or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts,
or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or
pieces. "Candy" does not include any preparation containing flour and
does not require refrigeration.
(e) "Bottled water" means water that is placed in a sealed
container or package for human consumption. Bottled water is calorie
free and does not contain sweeteners or other additives except that it
may contain: (i) Antimicrobial agents; (ii) fluoride; (iii)
carbonation; (iv) vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes; (v) oxygen;
(vi) preservatives; and (vii) only those flavors, extracts, or essences
derived from a spice or fruit. "Bottled water" includes water that is
delivered to the buyer in a reusable container that is not sold with
the water.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the
exemption of "food and food ingredients" provided in this section
applies to food and food ingredients that are furnished, prepared, or
served as meals:
(a) Under a state administered nutrition program for the aged as
provided for in the older Americans act (P.L. 95-478 Title III) and RCW
74.38.040(6);
(b) That are provided to senior citizens, individuals with
disabilities, or low-income persons by a not-for-profit organization
organized under chapter 24.03 or 24.12 RCW; or
(c) That are provided to residents, sixty-two years of age or
older, of a qualified low-income senior housing facility by the lessor
or operator of the facility. The sale of a meal that is billed to both
spouses of a marital community or both domestic partners of a domestic
partnership meets the age requirement in this subsection (3)(c) if at
least one of the spouses or domestic partners is at least sixty-two
years of age. For purposes of this subsection, "qualified low-income
senior housing facility" means a facility:
(i) That meets the definition of a qualified low-income housing
project under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 42 of the federal internal revenue code,
as existing on August 1, 2009;
(ii) That has been partially funded under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1485; and
(iii) For which the lessor or operator has at any time been
entitled to claim a federal income tax credit under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 42
of the federal internal revenue code.
(4)(a) Subsection (1) of this section notwithstanding, the retail
sale of food and food ingredients is subject to sales tax under RCW
82.08.020 if the food and food ingredients are sold through a vending
machine. Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the selling
price of food and food ingredients sold through a vending machine for
purposes of RCW 82.08.020 is fifty-seven percent of the gross receipts.
(b) For soft drinks and hot prepared food and food ingredients,
other than food and food ingredients which are heated after they have
been dispensed from the vending machine, the selling price is the total
gross receipts of such sales divided by the sum of one plus the sales
tax rate expressed as a decimal.
(c) For tax collected under this subsection (4), the requirements
that the tax be collected from the buyer and that the amount of tax be
stated as a separate item are waived.
Sec. 306 RCW 82.12.0293 and 2010 1st sp.s. c ... (2ESSB 6143) s
903 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect to the
use of food and food ingredients for human consumption. "Food and food
ingredients" has the same meaning as in RCW 82.08.0293.
(2) ((Until July 1, 2013,)) The exemption of "food and food
ingredients" provided for in subsection (1) of this section does not
apply to prepared food, soft drinks, bottled water, candy, or dietary
supplements. ((Beginning July 1, 2013, the exemption of "food and food
ingredients" provided for in subsection (1) of this section does not
apply to prepared food, soft drinks, candy, or dietary supplements.))
"Prepared food," "soft drinks," "dietary supplements," "candy," and
"bottled water" have the same meanings as in RCW 82.08.0293.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the
exemption of "food and food ingredients" provided in this section
((apply)) applies to food and food ingredients which are furnished,
prepared, or served as meals:
(a) Under a state administered nutrition program for the aged as
provided for in the older Americans act (P.L. 95-478 Title III) and RCW
74.38.040(6);
(b) Which are provided to senior citizens, individuals with
disabilities, or low-income persons by a not-for-profit organization
organized under chapter 24.03 or 24.12 RCW; or
(c) That are provided to residents, sixty-two years of age or
older, of a qualified low-income senior housing facility by the lessor
or operator of the facility. The sale of a meal that is billed to both
spouses of a marital community or both domestic partners of a domestic
partnership meets the age requirement in this subsection (3)(c) if at
least one of the spouses or domestic partners is at least sixty-two
years of age. For purposes of this subsection, "qualified low-income
senior housing facility" has the same meaning as in RCW 82.08.0293.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 401 (1) The legislature may provide additional
means for raising moneys for the payment of the principal of and
interest on the bonds authorized in section 201 of this act, and
section 202 of this act may not be deemed to provide an exclusive
method for the payment.
(2) The office of the state treasurer must determine a mechanism to
allow individual Washington state residents to purchase jobs act bonds.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 402 The bonds authorized by this chapter
constitute a legal investment for all state funds or for funds under
state control and all funds of municipal corporations.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 403 The state finance committee is authorized
to prescribe the form, terms, conditions, and covenants of the bonds
provided for in this act, the time or times of sale of all or any
portion of them, and the conditions and manner of their sale and
issuance.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 404 The Washington works account is created in
the state treasury. All receipts from bonds authorized under section
201 of this act must be deposited in the account. Moneys in the
account may be spent only after appropriation. The proceeds from the
sale of the bonds authorized in section 201 of this act must be
deposited in the account. Moneys in the account must be used
exclusively for:
(1) The purposes of sections 301, 302, and 303 of this act, which
includes energy and operational cost savings improvements and related
projects that result in energy and operational cost savings for public
school districts and public higher education institutions; and
(2) The payment of the expenses incurred in connection with the
sale and issuance of the bonds.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 405 If the state finance committee deems it
necessary to issue any portion of the bonds authorized in this chapter
as taxable bonds in order to comply with federal internal revenue
service rules and regulations pertaining to the use of nontaxable bond
proceeds, the proceeds of such taxable bonds must be transferred to the
state taxable building construction account in lieu of any deposits
otherwise provided by section 404 of this act. The state treasurer
must submit written notice to the director of financial management if
it is determined that any such transfer to the state taxable building
construction account is necessary. Moneys in the account may be spent
only after appropriation. For purposes of this section, "nontaxable
bond proceeds" includes proceeds from bonds issued as tax exempt bonds
and proceeds from taxable bonds eligible for direct federal subsidy
under federal internal revenue service rules.
Sec. 406 RCW 39.94.040 and 2003 c 6 s 2 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) Except as provided in RCW 28B.10.022, the state may not enter
into any financing contract for itself if the aggregate principal
amount payable thereunder is greater than an amount to be established
from time to time by the state finance committee or participate in a
program providing for the issuance of certificates of participation,
including any contract for credit enhancement, without the prior
approval of the state finance committee. Except as provided in RCW
28B.10.022, the state finance committee shall approve the form of all
financing contracts or a standard format for all financing contracts.
The state finance committee also may:
(a) Consolidate existing or potential financing contracts into
master financing contracts with respect to property acquired by one or
more agencies, departments, instrumentalities of the state, the state
board for community and technical colleges, or a state institution of
higher learning; or to be acquired by an other agency;
(b) Approve programs providing for the issuance of certificates of
participation in master financing contracts for the state or for other
agencies;
(c) Enter into agreements with trustees relating to master
financing contracts; and
(d) Make appropriate rules for the performance of its duties under
this chapter.
(2) In the performance of its duties under this chapter, the state
finance committee may consult with representatives from the department
of general administration, the office of financial management, and the
department of information services.
(3) With the approval of the state finance committee, the state
also may enter into agreements with trustees relating to financing
contracts and the issuance of certificates of participation.
(4) Except for financing contracts for real property used for the
purposes described under chapter 28B.140 RCW, the state may not enter
into any financing contract for real property of the state without
prior approval of the legislature.
(5) The state may not enter into any financing contract on behalf
of an other agency without the approval of such a financing contract by
the governing body of the other agency. For the purposes of this
requirement, a financing contract must be treated as used for real
property if it is being entered into by the state for the acquisition
of land; the acquisition of an existing building; the construction of
a new building; or a major remodeling, renovation, rehabilitation, or
rebuilding of an existing building. Prior approval of the legislature
is not required under this chapter for a financing contract entered
into by the state under this chapter for energy conservation
improvements to existing buildings where such improvements include (a)
fixtures and equipment that are not part of a major remodeling,
renovation, rehabilitation, or rebuilding of the building, or (b) other
improvements to the building that are being performed for the primary
purpose of energy conservation. Such energy conservation improvements
must be determined eligible for financing under this chapter by the
office of financial management in accordance with financing guidelines
established by the state treasurer, and are to be treated as personal
property for the purposes of this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 501 (1) The secretary of state shall submit
sections 101 through 203 and 401 through 405 of this act to the people
for their adoption and ratification, or rejection, at the next general
election to be held in this state, in accordance with Article II,
section 1 and Article VIII, section 3 of the state Constitution and the
laws adopted to facilitate their operation.
(2) If the people ratify this act as specified under subsection (1)
of this section, revenues generated shall be spent as detailed in this
act.
(3) Pursuant to RCW 29A.72.050(6), the statement of subject and
concise description for the ballot title shall read: "The legislature
has passed Engrossed House Bill No. 2561 (this act), concerning job
creation through energy efficiency projects in school buildings. This
bill would promote job creation by authorizing bonds to construct
energy efficiency savings improvements to schools, including higher
education buildings."
NEW SECTION. Sec. 502 Sections 303 through 306 of this act are
contingent upon approval by the voters of sections 101 through 203 and
401 through 405 of this act. If sections 101 through 203 and 401
through 405 of this act are not approved by the voters by December 1,
2010, sections 303 through 306 of this act are null and void.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 503 Sections 201 through 203, 301, 302, and
401 through 405 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title
NEW SECTION. Sec. 601 This act takes effect if Second Engrossed
Substitute Senate Bill No. 6143 is enacted by the legislature during
the 2010 1st special session."
EHB 2561 -
By Committee on Ways & Means
ADOPTED 04/12/2010
On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "facilities" strike the remainder of the title and insert "and raising revenue therefor; amending RCW 82.08.0293, 82.12.0293, and 39.94.040; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; creating new sections; making an appropriation; providing a contingent effective date; providing for submission of certain sections of this act to a vote of the people; and declaring an emergency."