HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5015

As Reported by House Committee On:

Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to the definition of border area.

Brief Description:  Modifying the definition of border area.

Sponsors:  By Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senators Morton, McCaslin and Gardner).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Appropriations:  3/27/01, 3/28/01 [DP].

  Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Distributions from the liquor revolving fund to border areas are expanded to include all unincorporated areas located within seven miles of the Washington-Canadian border.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 30 members: Representatives Sehlin, Republican Co‑Chair; H. Sommers, Democratic Co‑Chair; Barlean, Republican Vice Chair; Doumit, Democratic Vice Chair; Alexander, Benson, Boldt, Buck, Clements, Cody, Cox, Dunshee, Fromhold, Grant, Kagi, Keiser, Kenney, Kessler, Lambert, Linville, Mastin, McIntire, Mulliken, Pearson, Pflug, Ruderman, D. Schmidt, Schual‑Berke, Talcott and Tokuda.

Staff:  Linda Brooks (786‑7153).

Background:

The liquor revolving fund consists of all income from license fees, permit fees, penalties, forfeitures, and all other moneys, income, or revenue received by the Washington State Liquor Control Board.

Moneys from the liquor revolving fund are used to finance the operations of the Liquor Control Board, and the remainder is distributed for a variety of purposes.  Among other distributions, 0.3 percent of the moneys is allocated to border areas.  For the purposes of this distribution, border areas are defined to include cities and towns located within seven miles of the Washington-Canadian border and one unincorporated area, Point Roberts.  The total allocation is divided among border cities and towns and Point Roberts on the basis of border area traffic totals, border-related crime statistics, and border area per capita law enforcement spending.

Summary of  Bill:

The definition of a border area is modified to include all unincorporated areas located within seven miles of the Washington-Canadian border.  Distributions from the liquor revolving fund for unincorporated border areas are made to the counties governing those areas.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This legislation would benefit Ferry County by allowing the county to receive a share of the border funds that are distributed.  In regards to border-related criminal activity, not all incidents occur at border crossings.  Some of these incidents occur in unincorporated, back-country areas.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Morton, prime sponsor.