1908-S

AN ACT Relating to minority assistance; adding new sections to chapter 43.63A RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.17 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.10 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that at-risk youth make up a disproportionately high percentage of the population that live in poverty, are involved in gangs or subject to the negative consequences of gang activity, and are in the corrections system. Minorities make up a disproportionately small percentage of the state's business owners and operators due, in part, to having unequal opportunity to procure small business financing and to having difficulty in securing bonds and contract work. The legislature finds that the obstacles faced by minorities, caused by many factors, including discrimination, are important public health, safety, and welfare concerns to all the citizens of Washington state. Therefore, the legislature intends to provide assistance to combat the gang problem affecting the communities and to provide economic opportunities as an alternative to gangs by providing financing for minority businesses.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.63A RCW to read as follows:

(1) The legislature declares it to be the public policy of this state that a portion of appropriations for capital expenditures be set aside to assist the minority community in fighting destructive youth gangs by providing economic opportunities for at-risk youth.

(2) There is hereby created the Washington state community equalization program to be developed and administered by the department. The program, using moneys from the Washington state community equalization account, created in section 5 of this act, shall:

(a) Provide funding to programs designed for and proving successful at diverting at-risk youth from gang and drug activity; and

(b) Provide funding for the development or expansion of businesses located in neighborhoods with high concentrations of minority population.

The department shall divide the funds as equally as possible between the purposes described in (a) and (b) of this subsection.

(3) The department shall give priority to applications from local governments that develop programs designed to accomplish the objectives of subsection (2) of this section. The department may appoint an advisory committee to assist the department in carrying out its duties under this section. The department may make rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 43.17 RCW to read as follows:

All state agencies including state departments, boards, councils, commissions, and quasi-public corporations shall allocate, as a nondeductible item, out of moneys appropriated for the original construction of a public building, an amount of one-half of one percent of the appropriation to be deposited in the Washington state equalization account created in section 5 of this act for the Washington state equalization program created in section 2 of this act. For the purpose of this section, the term "building" shall not include highway construction sheds, warehouses, or other buildings of a temporary nature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows:

All colleges and universities shall allocate, as a nondeductible item, out of the moneys appropriated for state assistance for the original construction or major remodeling of a building, the amount of one-half of one percent of the appropriation to be deposited in the Washington state equalization account created in section 5 of this act for the Washington state equalization program created in section 2 of this act. For the purpose of this section, the term "building" shall not include highway construction sheds, warehouses, or other buildings of a temporary nature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 43.63A RCW to read as follows:

The Washington state community equalization account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from sections 3 and 4 of this act shall be deposited in the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes set out in section 2 of this act. Only the director of the department of community development or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures.