[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to humanitarian relief and assistance; amending RCW 82.08.020; adding a new section to chapter 43.01 RCW; creating a new section; and providing for submission of this act to a vote of the people.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that:

(a) Washington state is the most trade-dependent state in the United States;

(b) The state's economy and economic well-being depend heavily on foreign trade and international relations;

(d) Enhanced international trade, cultural, and educational opportunities are developed when governments reach out.

(2) The legislature declares that the purpose of this act is to enhance Washington state's ability to develop relationships and contacts throughout the world enabling us to expand international education and trade opportunities for all citizens of the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.01 RCW to read as follows:

(1)(a) A humanitarian relief council is created comprised of the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the secretary of state.

(b) The council shall determine which disasters and hardships qualify for state support and how much the state will contribute from the worldwide humanitarian relief treasury account created in subsection (2) of this section. The council shall coordinate its assistance with recognized relief agencies so as to not duplicate efforts or waste state money.

(c) The council shall consult with the emergency management board and establish necessary criteria for receiving assistance from the state.

(d) The council shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.

(e) Staff support for the council shall be provided by the department of community, trade, and economic development, the department of agriculture, and the military department.

(2) The worldwide humanitarian relief treasury account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from revenues as determined under RCW 82.08.020(3) must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for humanitarian relief.

(3)(a) The council may accept gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises, of real or personal property, or both, in trust or otherwise, and sell, lease, exchange, invest, or expend these donations or the proceeds, rents, profits, and income from the donations except as limited by the donor's terms. The council shall adopt rules to govern and protect the receipt and expenditure of the proceeds.

(b) The humanitarian relief account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises under this subsection must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for humanitarian relief. Only the humanitarian relief council or the council's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.

(4) This section may be known and cited as the good samaritan act.

Sec. 3. RCW 82.08.020 and 2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There is levied and there shall be collected a tax on each retail sale in this state equal to six and ((~~five-tenths~~)) six-tenths percent of the selling price.

(2) There is levied and there shall be collected an additional tax on each retail car rental, regardless of whether the vehicle is licensed in this state, equal to five and nine-tenths percent of the selling price. The revenue collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the multimodal transportation account created in RCW 47.66.070.

(3) One-tenth of one percent of the revenues collected under subsection (1) of this section shall be deposited into the worldwide humanitarian relief treasury account created in section 2 of this act.

(4) The taxes imposed under this chapter shall apply to successive retail sales of the same property.

((~~(4)~~)) (5) The rates provided in this section apply to taxes imposed under chapter 82.12 RCW as provided in RCW 82.12.020.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The secretary of state shall submit this act to the people for their adoption and ratification, or rejection, at the next general election to be held in this state, in accordance with Article II, section 1 of the state Constitution and the laws adopted to facilitate its operation.