READ FIRST TIME 02/11/13.   

     AN ACT Relating to local government practices and procedures; amending RCW 35.33.075, 35.34.120, and 35.34.130; adding a new section to chapter 35.21 RCW; and repealing RCW 36.28.060.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 35.33.075 and 1995 c 301 s 41 are each amended to read as follows:
     Following conclusion of the hearing, and prior to the beginning of the fiscal year, the legislative body shall make such adjustments and changes as it deems necessary or proper and after determining the allowance in each item, department, classification and fund, and shall by ordinance, adopt the budget in its final form and content. Appropriations shall be limited to the total estimated revenues contained therein including the amount to be raised by ad valorem taxes and the unencumbered fund balances estimated to be available at the close of the current fiscal year. Such ordinances may adopt the final budget by reference: PROVIDED, That the ordinance adopting such budget shall set forth in summary form the totals of estimated revenues and appropriations for each separate fund and the aggregate totals for all such funds combined.
     ((A complete copy of the final budget as adopted shall be transmitted to the association of Washington cities.))

Sec. 2   RCW 35.34.120 and 1995 c 301 s 45 are each amended to read as follows:
     Following conclusion of the hearing, and prior to the beginning of the fiscal biennium, the legislative body shall make such adjustments and changes as it deems necessary or proper and, after determining the allowance in each item, department, classification, and fund, shall by ordinance adopt the budget in its final form and content. Appropriations shall be limited to the total estimated revenues contained therein including the amount to be raised by ad valorem taxes and the unencumbered fund balances estimated to be available at the close of the current fiscal biennium. Such ordinances may adopt the final budget by reference. However, the ordinance adopting the budget shall set forth in summary form the totals of estimated revenues and appropriations for each separate fund and the aggregate totals for all such funds combined.
     ((A complete copy of the final budget as adopted shall be transmitted to the state auditor and to the association of Washington cities.))

Sec. 3   RCW 35.34.130 and 1995 c 301 s 46 are each amended to read as follows:
     The legislative authority of a city or town having adopted the provisions of this chapter shall provide by ordinance for a mid-biennial review and modification of the biennial budget. The ordinance shall provide that such review and modification shall occur no sooner than eight months after the start nor later than conclusion of the first year of the fiscal biennium. The chief administrative officer shall prepare the proposed budget modification and shall provide for publication of notice of hearings consistent with publication of notices for adoption of other city or town ordinances. City or town ordinances providing for a mid-biennium review and modification shall establish procedures for distribution of the proposed modification to members of the city or town legislative authority, procedures for making copies available to the public, and shall provide for public hearings on the proposed budget modification. The budget modification shall be by ordinance approved in the same manner as are other ordinances of the city or town.
     ((A complete copy of the budget modification as adopted shall be transmitted to the state auditor and to the association of Washington cities.))

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 35.21 RCW to read as follows:
     Any city or town is authorized to accept credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, smart cards, stored value cards, federal wire, and automatic clearinghouse system transactions, or other electronic communication, for any payment of any kind including, but not limited to, taxes, fines, interest, penalties, special assessments, fees, rates, charges, or moneys due cities or towns. A payer desiring to pay by a credit card, charge card, debit card, smart card, stored value card, federal wire, automatic clearinghouse system, or other electronic communication must be assessed a convenience fee to cover the cost of processing the transaction in an amount determined by the city or town. The city or town's cost determination of the convenience fee must be based upon costs incurred by the city or town and may not, in any event, exceed the additional direct costs incurred by the city or town to accept the specific form of payment utilized by the payer.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   RCW 36.28.060 (Duplicate receipts -- Penalties) and 2003 c 53 s 202 & 1963 c 4 s 36.28.060 are each repealed.