H-3873              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1893

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Representatives Braddock and Kremen

Read first time 1/29/88 and referred to Committee on Local Government.

AN ACT Relating to funding for emergency services communication systems; and amending RCW 82.14B.010, 82.14B.020, and 82.14B.030.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 160, Laws of 1981 and RCW 82.14B.010 are each amended to read as follows:

          The legislature finds that counties should be provided with an additional revenue source to fund emergency service communication systems ((on a county-wide basis)).  The legislature further finds that the most efficient and appropriate method of deriving additional revenue for this purpose is to vest the legislative authorities of the counties, subject to voter approval, with the power to impose an excise tax on ((the use of)) local telephone ((access lines)) service.

        Sec. 2.  Section 2, chapter 160, Laws of 1981 and RCW 82.14B.020 are each amended to read as follows:

          As used in this chapter:

          (1) "Emergency services communication system" means a ((county-wide)) radio or landline communications network, 911 telephone system, which provides rapid public access for coordinated dispatching of services, personnel, equipment, and facilities for police, fire, medical, or other emergency services.

          (2) (("Telephone access line" means the telephone service line which connects a subscriber's main telephone(s) or equivalent main  telephone(s) to the telephone company's switching office.

          (3))) "Telephone company" has the meaning ascribed to it in RCW 80.04.010.

        Sec. 3.  Section 3, chapter 160, Laws of 1981 and RCW 82.14B.030 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The legislative authority of a county may impose an excise tax on ((the use of)) local telephone ((access lines)) service as defined by the commission by rule, other than lifeline service under RCW 80.36.420 in an amount not exceeding ((fifty cents)) five percent per month ((for each telephone access line.  The amount of tax shall be uniform for each telephone access line)) of the amount charged by the telephone company for the service.  This tax must be approved by a favorable vote of at least three-fifths of the electors thereof voting on the proposition, at which election the number of persons voting "yes" on the proposition shall constitute three-fifths of a number equal to forty per centum of the total votes cast in the county at the last preceding general election when the number of electors voting on the proposition does not exceed forty per centum of the total votes cast in the county in the last preceding general election; or by a majority of at least three-fifths of the electors thereof voting on the proposition when the number of electors voting on the proposition exceeds forty per centum of the total votes cast in the county in the last preceding general election.  ((This tax may be imposed for six years without subsequent voter approval.))  At any election held under this section, the ballot title of the proposition shall state the maximum monthly rate of the proposed tax which may be imposed by the county legislative authority.  The actual rate of tax to be imposed shall be set by ordinance, which rate shall not exceed the maximum monthly rate approved by the electors.

(2) No tax may be imposed under this section for more than ((one year)) two years before the expected implementation date of an  emergency services communication system.   No tax on local telephone service may be imposed by a county under this section if a tax on the use of telephone access lines imposed before the effective date of this 1988 section is still in effect.  The power granted under this section is in addition to any other authority which counties have to fund  emergency services communication systems.