H-0339.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1268

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Representatives Thomas and Dunshee

Read first time 01/20/1999.  Referred to Committee on Local Government.

Defining membership requirements and procedures for lodging tax advisory committees.

    AN ACT Relating to lodging tax advisory committees; and amending RCW 67.28.1817.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 67.28.1817 and 1998 c 35 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Before proposing imposition of a new tax under this chapter, an increase in the rate of a tax imposed under this chapter, repeal of an exemption from a tax imposed under this chapter, or a change in the use of revenue received under this chapter, a municipality with a population of five thousand or more shall establish a lodging tax advisory committee under this section.  A lodging tax advisory committee shall consist of at least five members, appointed by the legislative body of the municipality, unless the municipality has a charter providing for a different appointment authority.  The committee membership shall ((include)) consist of the following:  (a) At least two members who are representatives of businesses required to collect tax under this chapter; ((and)) (b) at least two members who are persons involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue received under this chapter; and (c) one member who is an elected official of the municipality who shall serve as chair.  Persons who are eligible for appointment under (a) of this subsection are not eligible for appointment under (b) of this subsection.  ((Persons who are eligible for appointment under (b) of this subsection are not eligible for appointment under (a) of this subsection.))  Organizations representing businesses required to collect tax under this chapter, organizations involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue received under this chapter, and local agencies involved in tourism promotion may submit recommendations for membership on the committee.  The number of members who are representatives of businesses required to collect tax under this chapter shall equal the number of members who are involved in activities authorized to be funded by revenue received under this chapter.  ((One member shall be an elected official of the municipality who shall serve as chair of the committee.))  An advisory committee for a county may include one nonvoting member who is an elected official of a city or town in the county.  An advisory committee for a city or town may include one nonvoting member who is an elected official of the county in which the city or town is located.  The appointing authority shall review the membership of the advisory committee annually and make changes as appropriate.

    (2) Any municipality that proposes imposition of a tax under this chapter, an increase in the rate of a tax imposed under this chapter, repeal of an exemption from a tax imposed under this chapter, or a change in the use of revenue received under this chapter shall submit the proposal to the lodging tax advisory committee for review and comment.  The submission shall occur at least forty-five days before final action on or passage of the proposal by the municipality.  The advisory committee shall submit comments on the proposal in a timely manner through generally applicable public comment procedures.  The comments shall include an analysis of the extent to which the proposal will accommodate activities for tourists or increase tourism, and the extent to which the proposal will affect the long-term stability of the fund created under RCW 67.28.1815.  Failure of the advisory committee to submit comments before final action on or passage of the proposal shall not prevent the municipality from acting on the proposal.  A municipality is not required to submit an amended proposal to an advisory committee under this section.

(3) If a municipality with a population of less than five thousand establishes a lodging tax advisory committee, then the committee shall be composed according to subsection (1) of this section and shall follow the procedures according to subsection (2) of this section.

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