AN
ACT Relating to local effort assistance; amending RCW 28A.500.030; 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 the purpose of the local effort assistance program is
stated in RCW 28A.500.010 as follows: "The purpose of these funds is to
mitigate the effect that above average property tax rates might have on the
ability of a school district to raise local revenues to supplement the state's
basic program of education. These funds serve to equalize the property tax
rates that individual taxpayers would pay for such levies and to provide tax
relief to taxpayers in high tax rate school districts."
The
legislature further finds that changes in state and federal funding that have
taken place since the local effort assistance program began in 1989 make it
necessary to reexamine the local effort assistance funding formula and to
determine whether the purpose of the program is being fulfilled.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. (1)
The joint task force on local effort assistance is created, to consist of
nineteen members:
(a)
Six members of the house of representatives, three appointed by the speaker of
the house of representatives and three appointed by the minority leader;
(b)
Six members of the senate, three appointed by the majority leader and three
appointed by the minority leader;
(c)
The superintendent of public instruction;
(d)
A member chosen by the Washington state school directors' association;
(e)
A member chosen by the Washington association of school administrators;
(f)
A member chosen by the rural education center;
(g)
A fiscal officer of an educational service district chosen by the
superintendent of public instruction in consultation with the superintendents
of the educational service districts; and
(h)
Two members from school districts with student enrollments greater than twenty
thousand, chosen by the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
(2)
Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses
as provided in RCW 44.04.120. The staff of the office of superintendent of
public instruction, senate committee services, and the office of program
research of the house of representatives shall provide support to the task
force.
(3)
The task force shall be cochaired by one senator, chosen by the task force, and
one representative, chosen by the task force. The task force shall establish
rules of procedure at its first meeting.
(4)
The task force shall seek input and advice from stakeholders.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. The
joint task force on local effort assistance shall:
(1)
Complete a thorough analysis of the history of the local effort assistance
program and its impacts, including a thorough examination of the revenues
included in the levy base;
(2)
Determine whether the purpose of the local effort assistance program, as stated
in RCW 28A.500.010, is being met under the current allocation formula; and
(3)
Present its findings and provide recommendations to the legislature by December
1, 2002.
Sec.
4. RCW
28A.500.030 and 1999 c 317 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
Allocation
of state matching funds to eligible districts for local effort assistance shall
be determined as follows:
(1)
Funds raised by the district through maintenance and operation levies shall be
matched with state funds using the following ratio of state funds to levy
funds:
(a)
The difference between the district's twelve percent levy rate and the
statewide average twelve percent levy rate; to
(b)
The statewide average twelve percent levy rate.
(2)
The maximum amount of state matching funds for districts eligible for local
effort assistance shall be the district's twelve percent levy amount,
multiplied by the following percentage:
(a)
The difference between the district's twelve percent levy rate and the
statewide average twelve percent levy rate; divided by
(b)
The district's twelve percent levy rate.
(3)
Calendar year 2003 allocations and maximum eligibility under this chapter shall
be multiplied by 0.99.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5.
Sections 1 through 3 of this act expire December 31, 2002.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 6. 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.
