H-1926.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2033

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives D. Sommers, Gombosky, Wood and Benson

Read first time 02/18/97.  Referred to Committee on Government Administration.

Increasing authority of transportation benefit districts to issue general obligation bonds.

    AN ACT Relating to increasing authority of transportation benefit districts to issue general obligation bonds; and amending RCW 36.73.070.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 36.73.070 and 1987 c 327 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) To carry out the purpose of this chapter, a transportation benefit district may issue general obligation bonds, not to exceed an amount, together with any other outstanding nonvoter-approved general obligation indebtedness, equal to three-eighths of one percent of the value of taxable property within the district, as the term "value of taxable property" is defined in RCW 39.36.015.  A district may additionally issue general obligation bonds for capital purposes only, together with any outstanding general obligation indebtedness, not to exceed an amount equal to ((one and one-fourth)) five percent of the value of the taxable property within the district, as the term "value of taxable property" is defined in RCW 39.36.015, when authorized by the voters of the district pursuant to Article VIII, section 6 of the state Constitution, and to provide for the retirement thereof by excess property tax levies as provided in RCW 36.73.060(2).  The district may submit a single proposition to the voters that, if approved, authorizes both the issuance of the bonds and the bond retirement property tax levies.

    (2) General obligation bonds with a maturity in excess of forty years shall not be issued.  The governing body of the transportation benefit district shall by resolution determine for each general obligation bond issue the amount, date, terms, conditions, denominations, maximum fixed or variable interest rate or rates, maturity or maturities, redemption rights, registration privileges, manner of execution, manner of sale, callable provisions, if any, covenants, and form, including registration as to principal and interest, registration as to principal only, or bearer.  Registration may include, but not be limited to:  (a) A book entry system of recording the ownership of a bond whether or not physical bonds are issued; or (b) recording the ownership of a bond together with the requirement that the transfer of ownership may only be effected by the surrender of the old bond and either the reissuance of the old bond or the issuance of a new bond to the new owner.  Facsimile signatures may be used on the bonds and any coupons.  Refunding general obligation bonds may be issued in the same manner as general obligation bonds are issued.

    (3) Whenever general obligation bonds are issued to fund specific projects or enterprises that generate revenues, charges, user fees, or special assessments, the transportation benefit district which issues the bonds may specifically pledge all or a portion of the revenues, charges, user fees, or special assessments to refund the general obligation bonds.  The district may also pledge any other revenues that may be available to the district.

                            --- END ---