BILL REQ. #:  Z-0348.3 

Read first time 01/16/09.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to state general obligation bonds and related accounts; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   For the purpose of providing funds to finance the projects described and authorized by the legislature in the capital and operating appropriations acts for the 2007-2009 and 2009-2011 fiscal bienniums, and all costs incidental thereto, the state finance committee is authorized to issue general obligation bonds of the state of Washington in the sum of two billion two hundred twenty-one million dollars, or as much thereof as may be required, to finance these projects and all costs incidental thereto. Bonds authorized in this section may be sold at such price as the state finance committee shall determine. 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. 2   The proceeds from the sale of the bonds authorized in section 1 of this act shall be deposited in the state building construction account created by RCW 43.83.020. The proceeds shall be transferred as follows:
     (1) One billion nine hundred eighty-six million dollars to remain in the state building construction account created by RCW 43.83.020;
     (2) Twenty-one million dollars to the outdoor recreation account created by RCW 79A.25.060;
     (3) Twenty-one million dollars to the habitat conservation account created by RCW 79A.15.020;
     (4) Four million dollars to the riparian protection account created by RCW 79A.15.120;
     (5) Four million dollars to the farmlands preservation account created by RCW 79A.15.130;
     (6) One hundred eighty-five million dollars to the state taxable building construction account. All receipts from taxable bond issues are to be deposited into the account. If the state finance committee deems it necessary to issue more than the amount specified in this subsection (6) 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 additional taxable bonds shall be transferred to the state taxable building construction account in lieu of any transfer otherwise provided by this section. The state treasurer shall submit written notice to the director of financial management if it is determined that any such additional transfer to the state taxable building construction account is necessary. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.
     These proceeds shall be used exclusively for the purposes specified in this section and for the payment of expenses incurred in the issuance and sale of the bonds issued for the purposes of this section, and shall be administered by the office of financial management subject to legislative appropriation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) The debt-limit general fund bond retirement account shall be used for the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds authorized in section 2 (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of this act.
     (2) The state finance committee shall, 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 2 (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) 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 2 (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of this act the state treasurer shall withdraw from any general state revenues received in the state treasury and deposit in the debt-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. 4   (1) Bonds issued under sections 1 through 3 of this act shall state that they are a general obligation of the state of Washington, shall pledge the full faith and credit of the state to the payment of the principal thereof and the interest thereon, and shall 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. 5   The legislature may provide additional means for raising moneys for the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds authorized in section 1 of this act, and sections 2 and 3 of this act shall not be deemed to provide an exclusive method for the payment.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   Sections 1 through 5 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   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.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.