BILL REQ. #:  H-3790.1 

Read first time 01/16/08.   Referred to Committee on Local Government.

     AN ACT Relating to creating equality among port districts participating in the Washington public ports association; and amending RCW 53.06.030 and 53.06.040.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 53.06.030 and 1989 c 425 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The port district commissions in this state are empowered to designate the Washington public ports association as a coordinating agency through which the duties imposed by RCW 53.06.020 may be performed, harmonized or correlated. The purposes of the Washington public ports association shall be:
     (((1))) (a) To initiate and carry on the necessary studies, investigations and surveys required for the proper development and improvement of the commerce and business generally common to all port districts, and to assemble and analyze the data thus obtained and to cooperate with the state of Washington, port districts both within and without the state of Washington, and other operators of terminal and transportation facilities for this purpose, and to make such expenditures as are necessary for these purposes, including the proper promotion and advertising of all such properties, utilities and facilities;
     (((2))) (b) To establish coordinating and joint marketing bodies comprised of association members, including but not limited to establishment of a federation of Washington ports as described in RCW 53.06.070, as may be necessary to provide effective and efficient marketing of the state's trade, tourism, and travel resources;
     (((3))) (c) To exchange information relative to port construction, maintenance, operation, administration and management;
     (((4))) (d) To promote and encourage port development along sound economic lines;
     (((5))) (e) To promote and encourage the development of transportation, commerce and industry;
     (((6))) (f) To operate as a clearing house for information, public relations and liaison for the port districts of the state and to serve as a channel for cooperation among the various port districts and for the assembly and presentation of information relating to the needs and requirements of port districts to the public.
     (2) Port districts participating in a Washington public ports association shall have an equal voice in the governance and decision-making processes of the association. Each participating port district shall have an equal vote with respect to all decisions and resolutions of any public ports association.

Sec. 2   RCW 53.06.040 and 1973 1st ex.s. c 195 s 55 are each amended to read as follows:
     Each port district which designates the Washington public ports association as the agency through which the duties imposed by RCW 53.06.020 may be executed is authorized to pay either dues ((and/or)) or assessments, or both, to said association from port district funds in any calendar year ((in an amount not exceeding a sum equal to the amount which would be raised by a levy of one cent per thousand dollars of assessed value against the taxable property within the port district)). The amount of any such dues and assessments shall be determined by the governing body of an association and must be assessed in an equal dollar amount for each port district participating in the association.