BILL REQ. #:  S-5027.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/07/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to a statewide infrastructure investment strategy; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that while state and local governments invest billions of dollars per year in infrastructure development and rehabilitation through numerous programs, there is no overall strategy guiding our state's infrastructure investments. The legislature also finds that the state often undertakes significant new policy initiatives that impact how infrastructure funds are spent, without identifying funding needs or sources necessary to achieve the policy objectives. Therefore, the legislature finds that a statewide infrastructure investment strategy is necessary to provide policy direction for our infrastructure investments and to identify sufficient, reliable, and sustainable funding for infrastructure investments that will help the state achieve its policy priorities and help local governments carry out regulatory mandates resulting from those priorities.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The legislative committee on a statewide infrastructure investment strategy created in section 4 of this act is directed to develop a ten-year statewide infrastructure investment strategy to provide policy direction for state infrastructure investments and identify sufficient and sustainable funding for investments needed to implement policy initiatives of the state. The strategy must provide the following:
     (1) Identify the state's financial responsibility for infrastructure investment necessary to achieve the state's policy goals and regulatory obligations placed on local government resulting from such policy goals over the next ten years relating to:
     (a) Basic infrastructure;
     (b) Housing to accommodate growth;
     (c) Economic development;
     (d) Transportation mobility and congestion relief;
     (e) Parks and recreational facilities;
     (f) Open space and the environment;
     (g) K-12 and higher education;
     (h) Community development and arts facilities;
     (i) Historic and cultural sites;
     (j) Criminal justice and public safety; and
     (k) Flood control facilities;
     (2) Identify appropriate funding sources and forecasted revenues during the next ten years for infrastructure investments identified in categories outlined in subsection (1)(a) through (k) of this section, including analysis of funding requests in state grant and loan programs relative to available funding;
     (3) In the event available funding falls short of identified need, identify potential new funding sources to meet the ten-year funding need;
     (4) Determine whether existing state infrastructure funding programs appropriately reflect and support the achievement of the state's policy goals and regulatory obligations placed on local governments for the infrastructure categories identified in subsection (1)(a) through (k) of this section;
     (5) Make appropriate recommendations for either restructuring state infrastructure funding assistance programs or creating new programs, or both, to help meet state policy goals and obligations. Recommendations must include criteria necessary for eligibility to receive funding assistance for each state infrastructure funding assistance program; and
     (6) The legislative committee on a statewide infrastructure investment strategy must prioritize a work plan for the categories listed in subsection (1)(a) through (k) of this section and include findings from studies that complement the work plan.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The legislative committee on a statewide infrastructure investment strategy created in section 4 of this act must work with the office of financial management, in cooperation with the department of community, trade, and economic development, the department of ecology, and the department of health, to develop a plan for reorganizing infrastructure assistance programs into an improved infrastructure investment system. The implementation plan must identify opportunities for the system to:
     (1) Increase access to program information and applications;
     (2) Coordinate program investments to ensure all budget and tax support from all state sources is disclosed;
     (3) Promote strategic investments aligned with state policy goals;
     (4) Provide effective and efficient program administration;
     (5) Suggest changes in statutes to accomplish the plan; and
     (6) Estimate costs to implement the plan.
     The implementation plan must be delivered to the governor and the appropriate legislative committees by November 1, 2008.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) The legislative committee on a statewide infrastructure investment strategy is created. The committee consists of three members from each caucus in both the senate and the house of representatives, for a total of twelve members.
     (2) The legislative committee on a statewide infrastructure investment strategy must produce a progress report by December 1, 2008, and recommendations for legislative action in 2009, for review by the appropriate standing committees of the legislature. During 2009, the committee must create appropriate task forces including appropriate stakeholders as necessary on identified priorities in section 2(1) of this act in order to develop the final report. The final report must be completed and submitted to the senate, the house of representatives, and the office of financial management by December 1, 2009.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   This act expires December 1, 2009.