BP BHEAD INT H [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to the funding and delivery of local government services; adding a new section to chapter 43.17 RCW; creating new sections; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that while government services are provided to the citizens of the state of Washington through many mechanisms, the most prevalent delivery of services occurs through city, county, or state government actions. Increased demand for these services and limited revenue to meet those services have led to unproductive competition between cities, counties, and the state for the revenue that is collected and shared between cities, counties, and the state.

The legislature further finds that rules adopted by state agencies cause local governments to allocate funds to meet those rules that are not fully funded at the state level.

Therefore, the legislature finds that there is a need to evaluate the delivery of government services and the allotment of revenues through the establishment of a joint task force on local governments.

The legislature further finds that the state must recognize the costs to local governments of rules adopted by state agencies and mitigate the financial impacts of those rules for a significant period to allow local governments to develop strategies to comply with the requirements of Initiative 695.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The joint task force on local governments is created, to consist of thirty-two members including:

(a) The following ten members of the house of representatives or their designees: (i) The cochairs of the committee on appropriations; (ii) the cochairs of the committee on capital budget; (iii) the cochairs of the committee on finance; (iv) the cochairs of the committee on local government; and (v) the cochairs of the committee on transportation;

(b) The following ten members of the senate or their designees: (i) The chair and the ranking minority member of the committee on transportation; (ii) the chair and the ranking minority member of the committee on ways and means; (iii) the chair and ranking minority member of the committee on state and local government; and (iv) four members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, two from each political party;

(d) Five nonvoting members shall be appointed jointly by the co-speakers of the house of representatives and the majority and minority leaders of the senate, representing the citizens of the state;

(e) Two nonvoting members shall be appointed jointly by the co-speakers of the house of representatives and the majority and minority leaders of the senate from nominations by the association of Washington cities;

(f) Two nonvoting members shall be appointed jointly by the co-speakers of the house of representatives and the majority and minority leaders of the senate from nominations by the Washington state association of counties;

(g) Two nonvoting members shall be appointed jointly by the co-speakers of the house of representatives and the majority and minority leaders of the senate from nominations by the Washington association of county officials.

(2) The nonlegislative members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but will be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Legislative members of the task force will be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 44.04.120. The staff of senate committee services and the office of program research of the house of representatives shall provide administrative and clerical assistance to the task force.

(3) The task force must be cochaired by one senator, chosen by the task force, and one state representative, chosen by the task force, from opposite political parties. Six members is a quorum for a meeting or hearing. The cochairs may appoint experts and advisors as nonvoting members of the task force to provide input on various subjects. Only the legislative members of the joint task force may vote on the adoption of findings, conclusions, or recommendations. Final findings, conclusions, or recommendations of the task force must be agreed to by at least ten legislative members. However, minority findings, conclusions, or recommendations may be included that are submitted by any legislative member or group of legislative members. The Open Public Meetings Act applies to all meetings and hearings of the task force. The task force shall establish rules of procedure at its first meeting.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The joint task force on local governments shall:

(1) Complete a thorough study of the delivery of government services and allotment of revenues; and

(2) Commence the study by July 1, 2000, present an interim report of its findings and any recommendations to the legislature by January 30, 2001, and present a final report addressing its recommendations to the legislature by January 1, 2002.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 43.17 RCW to read as follows:

State agencies are required to:

(1) Examine the impacts of all proposed rules to determine if they will result in increased costs for local governments;

(2) Notify associations of local governments of proposed rules affecting their membership if it is determined that the rules will result in increased costs or added administrative burdens for local governments;

(3) Utilize rule development processes specified in chapter 34.05 RCW, the administrative procedure act, to mitigate cost impacts of proposed rules on local governments;

(4) Ensure that adoption of new rules and rule amendments is consistent with the principles and requirements of the governor's executive order 97-02, particularly those that emphasize demonstration of need, effectiveness and efficiency, clarity, consistency with legislative intent, coordination with other jurisdictions and partnership with local governments, consideration of cost, and fairness; and

(5) Utilize rule development mechanisms to ensure that cost impacts are minimized and participation in rule development is maximized. Examples include usability testing of rules and other intensive stakeholder involvement methods.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act expires March 30, 2002.