BILL REQ. #: S-1467.2

_____________________________________________

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5499
_____________________________________________

State of Washington

62nd Legislature

2011 Regular Session

By Senate Environment, Water & Energy (originally sponsored by Senators Chase, Kohl-Welles, and Shin)

READ FIRST TIME 02/18/11.

AN ACT Relating to utility donations to hunger programs; adding a new section to chapter 54.16 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 35.92 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 35A.80 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 54.16 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Public utility districts may request voluntary donations from their customers for the purpose of supporting hunger programs.
     (2) Voluntary donations collected by public utility districts under this section must be used by the public utility district to support the maintenance and operation of hunger programs in the community.
     (3) Donations received under this section do not contribute to the gross income of a light and power business or gas distribution business under chapter 82.16 RCW.
     (4) Nothing in this section precludes a public utility district from requesting voluntary donations to support other programs.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 35.92 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Municipal utilities under this chapter may request voluntary donations from their customers for the purpose of supporting hunger programs.
     (2) Voluntary donations collected by municipal utilities under this section must be used by the municipal utility to support the maintenance and operation of hunger programs in the community.
     (3) Donations received under this section do not contribute to the gross income of a light and power business or gas distribution business under chapter 82.16 RCW.
     (4) Nothing in this section precludes a municipal utility from requesting voluntary donations to support other programs.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 35A.80 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Code cities providing utility services under this chapter may request voluntary donations from their customers for the purpose of supporting hunger programs.
     (2) Voluntary donations collected by code cities under this section must be used by the code city to support the maintenance and operation of hunger programs in the community.
     (3) Donations received under this section do not contribute to the gross income of a light and power business or gas distribution business under chapter 82.16 RCW.
     (4) Nothing in this section precludes a code city providing utility services from requesting voluntary donations to support other programs.

--- END ---