FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2599

                         C 198 L 00

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Creating a training program for port district officials.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Doumit, Mulliken, Scott, Fisher and Alexander).

House Committee on Local Government

Senate Committee on Labor & Workforce Development

Background:

The Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) is empowered to perform certain duties as the coordinating agency for port district commissions throughout the state.  Those duties include, among others, performing studies for development of business, establishing joint marketing bodies, exchanging information germane to ports around the state, encouraging port economic development, and acting as the liaison between the ports and the state.

Port districts that choose to be a part of the WPPA are authorized to pay dues from public port district funds not exceeding a specified amount.

A municipality (including a port district) may, by ordinance, create a public corporation for the purpose of facilitating economic development and employment opportunities through the financing of project costs of industrial development facilities.  A municipality may not give or lend any money or property in aid of a public corporation.  A public corporation may not issue revenue obligation bonds except with the approval of the municipality under which it was created, and of the city or county within whose planning jurisdiction the proposed industrial development facility lies.

Summary of Bill:

The WPPA is authorized to establish a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation for the purpose of providing training, education and general improvement of port district public sector management skills to port district staff.  Any nonprofit corporation that is created through the WPPA is deemed to be a private, nonprofit corporation contracting with a port district to provide services.  The nonprofit corporation is expressly required to be audited by the state auditor to ensure compliance with the contract terms under which payments or reimbursements of public funds are received.

The nonprofit corporation is authorized to receive additional public or private contributions to the training fund.

Port districts are authorized to contribute monies to the nonprofit corporation through their industrial development corporations, which was generates funds through the issuance of industrial development bonds.

Votes on Final Passage:

House960

Senate470(Senate amended)

House810(House concurred)

Effective:June 8, 2000