BILL REQ. #:  H-4910.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/10/04.   

     AN ACT Relating to the Hanford area economic investment fund; and amending RCW 43.31.422, 43.31.428, 43.200.230, and 43.200.233.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 43.31.422 and 1998 c 76 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The Hanford area economic investment fund is established in the custody of the state treasurer. Moneys in the fund shall only be used for reasonable assistant attorney general costs in support of the committee or pursuant to the ((recommendations)) decisions of the committee created in RCW 43.31.425 ((and the approval of the director of community, trade, and economic development)) for Hanford area revolving loan funds, Hanford area infrastructure projects, or other Hanford area economic development and diversification projects, but may not be used for government or nonprofit organization operating expenses. Up to five percent of moneys in the fund may be used for program administration. For the purpose of this chapter "Hanford area" means Benton and Franklin counties. ((Disbursements from the fund shall be on the authorization of)) The director of community, trade, and economic development or the director's designee shall authorize disbursements from the fund after an affirmative vote of at least six members of the committee created in RCW 43.31.425 on any ((recommendations)) decisions reached by the committee created in RCW 43.31.425. The fund is subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursements. The legislature intends to establish similar economic investment funds for areas that develop low-level radioactive waste disposal facilities.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.31.428 and 1998 c 76 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     The Hanford area economic investment fund committee created under RCW 43.31.425 may:
     (1) Adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;
     (2) Utilize the services of other governmental agencies;
     (3) Accept from any federal or state agency loans or grants for the purposes of funding Hanford area revolving loan funds, Hanford area infrastructure projects, or Hanford area economic development projects;
     (4) ((Recommend to the director)) Adopt rules for the administration of the program, including the terms and rates pertaining to its loans, and criteria for awarding grants, loans, and financial guarantees;
     (5) ((Recommend to the director)) Adopt a spending strategy for the moneys in the fund created in RCW 43.31.422. The strategy shall include five and ten year goals for economic development and diversification for use of the moneys in the Hanford area;
     (6) Recommend to the director no more than two allocations eligible for funding per calendar year, with a first priority on Hanford area revolving loan allocations, and Hanford area infrastructure allocations followed by other Hanford area economic development and diversification projects if the committee finds that there are no suitable allocations in the priority allocations described in this section;
     (7) Establish and administer a revolving fund consistent with this section and RCW 43.31.422 and 43.31.425; and
     (8) Make grants from the Hanford area economic investment fund consistent with this section and RCW 43.31.422 and 43.31.425.

Sec. 3   RCW 43.200.230 and 1991 c 272 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:
     The director of the department of ecology shall require that generators of waste pay a fee for each cubic foot of waste disposed at any facility in the state equal to six dollars and fifty cents until July 1, 2004. Beginning July 1, 2004, the fee shall be eight dollars and seventy-five cents. Beginning July 1, 2005, and each July 1st thereafter, the department shall adjust the fee by the rate of yearly increase in the most recently published consumer price index, all urban consumers, for the United States, over the consumer price index for the preceding year, as compiled by the bureau of labor statistics, United States department of labor, rounded up to the nearest cent. The fee shall be imposed specifically on the generator of the waste and shall not be considered to apply in any way to the low-level site operator's disposal activities. The fee shall be allocated in accordance with RCW 43.200.233 and 43.200.235. This subsection shall be invalidated and the authorization to collect a surcharge removed if the legislature or any administrative agency of the state of Washington prior to January 1, 1993, (1) imposes fees, assessments, or charges other than perpetual care and maintenance, site surveillance, and site closing fees currently applicable to the Hanford commercial low-level waste site operator's activities, (2) imposes any additional fees, assessments, or charges on generators using the Hanford commercial low-level waste site, or (3) increases any existing fees, assessments, or charges.

Sec. 4   RCW 43.200.233 and 1991 c 272 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:
     A portion of the surcharge received under RCW 43.200.230 shall be remitted monthly to the county in which the low-level radioactive waste disposal facility is located in the following manner:
     (1) ((During 1993, six dollars and fifty cents per cubic foot of waste;
     (2) During 1994, three dollars and twenty-five cents per cubic foot of waste; and
     (3) During 1995 and thereafter,)) Two dollars per cubic foot of waste until July 1, 2004;
     (2) Beginning July 1, 2004, the surcharge shall be two dollars and sixty-five cents per cubic foot of waste; and
     (3) Beginning July 1, 2005, and each July 1st thereafter, the department shall adjust the surcharge by the rate of yearly increase in the most recently published consumer price index, all urban consumers, for the United States, over the consumer price index for the preceding year, as compiled by the bureau of labor statistics, United States department of labor, rounded up to the nearest cent.