SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SSB 6086

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 12, 1994

Brief Description:  Changing provisions regarding public facilities districts.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators West, Haugen, Deccio, Prince, Morton and Moyer)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6086 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; McCaslin, Oke, Owen and Winsley.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates: February 1, 1994; February 4, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Public facilities districts are municipal bodies corporate, established by statute as independent taxing authorities.  They may be created in any county with a population of 300,000 or more located more than 100 miles from any county in which the state has constructed and owns a convention center.  They are authorized to acquire, build, own and operate sports and entertainment facilities.

SUMMARY:

The public facilities districts are given powers and administrative mechanisms similar to those of other special districts.  The board is given authority to promulgate rules for the day-to-day operation of the district, within the guidelines of the statute.  The district is not given condemnation powers.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Public facilities districts were created by statute as corporate bodies.  In Spokane, the public facility district has been operating as a corporate body but has found specific statutory authority for many of its daily operations to be lacking.  Three substantive items are per diem payments, revenue bond authority, and condemnation powers.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Jim Williams, Kris Mote, Spokane Public Facilities District (pro); John Schreiner, Spokane County Title Co.