HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 296

BYRepresentatives Haugen, Brough, Cooper, P. King and Hine

Extending the local governance study commission.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (13)

     Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Beck, Bumgarner, Ferguson, Hine, Madsen, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Rayburn, L. Smith and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7126)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:     The substitute bill by Committee on Local Government as further amended by Committee on Ways & Means do pass.  (19)

     Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Grant, Grimm, Holland, McLean, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, Sprenkle and B. Williams.

House Staff:    Susan Kavanaugh (786-7145)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS

FEBRUARY 26, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Local Governance Study Commission was authorized in 1985 to study local government issues and report its recommendations for changes in laws to the legislature by November 1, 1986.  This commission is composed of 21 members appointed by the governor, plus several ex-officio members, including the director of the Department of Community Development who acts as the commission chair.

The commission's operations are financed with a portion of the motor vehicle excise tax receipts that would otherwise have been placed into the county sales tax equalization account and an equal amount that otherwise would have been distributed to cities and towns.

The Local Government Study Commission account was established out of which the costs of the study commission are paid.  $249,996 was appropriated from this account for the study commission in 1986-1987 biennium.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The existence of the Local Governance Study Commission is extended to June 30, 1988, and the time when the commission reports is extended to January 2, 1988.  Funding for this commission is changed, so that moneys are obtained from liquor excise tax receipts that otherwise would be distributed to cities and counties.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Instead of writing new laws concerning the commission, the existence of the old laws was extended another year.

EFFECT OF AMENDMENT BY WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS:  Makes a technical change to allow funds appropriated in the bill to be spent through fiscal year 1988.

Appropriation:  $128,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1988, from liquor excise tax receipts.

Fiscal Note:    Requested February 19, 1987.

Effective Date:The bill takes effect on June 30, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     (Local Government)  Jim Metcalf, Washington Association of Counties; Dick Thompson, Department of Community Development; Bill Mudge, Washington State Association of Sewer Districts; Joe Daniels, Washington State Association of Water Districts; and Kent Swisher, Association of Washington Cities.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Jim Metcalf, Washington Association of Counties.

House Committee - Testified Against: (Local Government)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     (Local Government)  The commission is close to finishing its work, but needs more time.  The funding comes entirely from moneys that would otherwise be distributed to cities and counties.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Study is important and more time is needed to complete it.  Funding comes from money that would otherwise be distributed to cities and counties.

House Committee - Testimony Against: (Local Government)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.