5955-S.E AMH FEYJ MATM 520

ESSB 5955 - H AMD TO TR COMM AMD (H-5153.1/18) 1386

By Representative Fey

    On page 3, after line 27 of the striking amendment, insert the following:

    "Sec. 5.  RCW 43.79.520 and 2015 3rd sp.s. c 44 s 423 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The Puget Sound taxpayer accountability account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may only be used for distribution to counties where a portion of the county is within the boundaries of a regional transit authority that includes a county with a population of one million five hundred thousand or more or, as provided in subsection (3) of this section, to the largest city within the county. Counties or cities may use distributions from the account only for educational services to improve educational outcomes in early learning, K-12, and higher education including, but not limited to, for youths that are low-income, homeless, or in foster care, or other vulnerable populations. Counties or cities receiving distributions under this section must track all expenditures and uses of the funds. To the greatest extent practicable, the expenditures of the counties or cities must follow the requirements of any transportation subarea equity element used by the regional transit authority.

(2) Beginning September 1, 2017, and by the last day of September, December, March, and June of each year thereafter, the state treasurer shall distribute moneys deposited in the Puget Sound taxpayer accountability account to counties for which a portion of the county is within the boundaries of a regional transit authority that includes a county with a population of one million five hundred thousand or more or, as provided in subsection (3) of this section, to the largest city within the county. The treasurer must make the distribution to the counties and cities on the relative basis of that transit authority's population that lives within the respective counties.

(3) In a county in which the largest city has imposed the tax under RCW 82.14.460, until the county has also imposed the tax under RCW 82.14.460, the expenditures from the account under subsection (1) of this section must be distributed to the city for the purposes of this section. Until the county imposes the tax under RCW 82.14.460, the city must act on behalf of the county with regard to ensuring that the funds are used throughout that portion of the county that is within the boundaries of a regional transit authority."

    Renumber the remaining sections consecutively, correct any internal references accordingly, and correct the title.

EFFECT:   Redirects the authority for implementing the purposes of the Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account from the county to the largest city in the county, if the city has imposed the local mental health sales and use tax and the county has not. Requires the largest city to act on behalf of the county to ensure that the funds are used throughout that portion of the county that is within the boundaries of the regional transit authority.

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