H-758                _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1155

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representative Holland

Read first time 1/18/89 and referred to Committee on Appropriations. Referred to Committees on Education/Capital Facilities & Financing on 1/20/89.

AN ACT Relating to authorized uses of school district levies; amending RCW 84.52.053; and declaring an emergency.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 3, chapter 325, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. as last amended by section 103, chapter 2, Laws of 1987 1st ex. sess. and RCW 84.52.053 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The limitations imposed by RCW 84.52.050 through 84.52.056, and RCW 84.52.043 shall not prevent the levy of additional taxes by school districts, when authorized so to do by the electors of such school district in the manner ((and for the purposes and number of years allowable under)) set forth in Article VII, section 2(a) of the Constitution of this state, as amended by Amendment 79 and as thereafter amended, at a special or general election to be held in the first year in which the levy is made ((or, in the case of a proposition authorizing two-year levies for maintenance and operation support of a school district or authorizing two-year through six-year levies to support the construction, modernization, or remodeling of school facilities, or both, at a special or general election to be held in the year in which the first annual levy is made:  PROVIDED, That)).

(2) Additional taxes authorized by this section are limited to:

(a) Levies for a maximum of two years for the purposes of maintenance and operation support of a school district.  Tax revenues from such levies shall be deposited in the district's general fund established under RCW 28A.58.441(1).  Once an additional tax ((levies have)) levy has been authorized for maintenance and operation support of a school district ((for a two year period)), no further additional tax levies for maintenance and operation support of the district for ((that period)) any year of the levy may be authorized.

(b) Levies for a maximum of six years for construction, modernization, or remodeling of school facilities.  Tax revenues from such levies shall be deposited in the district's capital projects fund established under RCW 28A.58.441(2).

(c) Levies for one year for the purposes enumerated under RCW 28A.58.441(2).  Tax revenues from such levies shall be deposited in the district's capital projects fund established under RCW 28A.58.441(2).

(d) Levies for one year for the purchase or major repair of pupil transportation vehicles.  Tax revenues from such levies shall be deposited in the district's transportation vehicle fund established under RCW 28A.58.428.

(3) A special election may be called and the time therefor fixed by the board of school directors, by giving notice thereof by publication in the manner provided by law for giving notices of general elections, at which special election the proposition authorizing such excess levy shall be submitted in such form as to enable the voters favoring the proposition to vote "yes" and those opposed thereto to vote "no".

(4) For the purposes of this section, "modernization" means changes in a facility in order to bring it up to a contemporary state and extend its useful life, and may include purchase or installation of major items of equipment and furniture.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.