S-3400.2          _______________________________________________

                           SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 8211

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State of Washington              56th Legislature             2000 Regular Session

By Senator Roach

Read first time 01/10/2000.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Amending the Constitution to require voter approval for any tax increases.

     BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:

     THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a new article to read as follows:

     Article . . ., section . . .  (1) Any tax increase imposed by the state requires voter approval.

     (2) For the purposes of this section, "tax" includes, but is not necessarily limited to, sales and use taxes, property taxes, business and occupation taxes, excise taxes, fuel taxes, impact fees, license fees, permit fees, and any monetary charge by government.

     (3) For the purposes of this section, "tax" does not include:

     (a) Higher education tuition; and

     (b) Civil and criminal fines and other charges collected in cases of restitution or violation of law or contract.

     (4) For the purposes of this section, "tax increase" includes, but is not necessarily limited to, a new tax, a monetary increase in an existing tax, a tax rate increase, an expansion in the legal definition of a tax base, and an extension of an expiring tax.

     (5) For the purposes of this section, "state" includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the state itself and all its departments and agencies, any city, county, special district, and other political subdivision or governmental instrumentality of or within the state.

     (6) This section does not apply to any specific emergency measure authorized by vote of two-thirds of the members of each house of the legislature and expiring not later than twelve months from the effective date of the emergency act.

     (7) This section is intended to add to, and not replace, any requirements imposed by law.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.

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