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TWENTY-FOURTH DAY, FIRST SPECIAL SESSION

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MORNING SESSION

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Senate Chamber, Olympia, Friday, May 18, 2001

      The Senate was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by President Owen. The Secretary called the roll and announced to the President that all Senators were present except Senators Benton, Costa, Deccio, Johnson, McCaslin, Oke, Sheahan and Stevens. On motion of Senator Honeyford, Senators Benton, Deccio, Johnson, McCaslin, Oke, Sheahan and Stevens were excused. On motion of Senator Eide, Senator Costa was excused.

      The Sergeant at Arms Color Guard, consisting of staff members Evalyn Poff and Mary Ann Sigman, presented the Colors. Senator Bob Morton offered the prayer.

MOTION

      On motion of Senator Betti Sheldon, the reading of the Journal of the previous day was dispensed with and it was approved.

MOTION

      On motion of Senator Shin, the following resolution was adopted:

SENATE RESOLUTION 2001-8695

By Senator Shin

      WHEREAS, In today's world, our youth are faced with extraordinary challenges as more and more responsibility is coupled with an increasing presence of unhealthy choices; and

      WHEREAS, Violence, drug and alcohol abuse, tobacco use, obesity, stress, and loneliness are all prevalent among our youth as the traditional family structure is being obliterated by outside influences in today's society; and

      WHEREAS, More and more youth are growing up in single parent households, with that parent working longer and longer hours just to make ends meet; and

      WHEREAS, Spending more hours at work means spending less time with family, and with more and more parents working longer hours, parents are more concerned about the safety of their children; and

      WHEREAS, Our youth need guidance and assistance by responsible, caring adults more than ever; and

      WHEREAS, Statistics have shown that eighty percent of adolescent crime nationally occurs from three o'clock p.m. to six o'clock p.m., a time in which children often find themselves alone with no place to go after school; and

      WHEREAS, This is a crucial window of time, when a child's choices can have a lasting impact on their lives; and

      WHEREAS, Children need positive after-school activities provided by responsible, caring adult role models; and

      WHEREAS, 2001 is the one-hundred-year anniversary of the Snohomish County YMCA, and the Mukilteo Family YMCA is its most recent addition; and

      WHEREAS, The Mukilteo Family YMCA, under the direction of Executive Director Jeff Dunleavy, his staff, Chairman of the Board Doug Zook, and Board Members, is addressing these issues through their commitment to youth and teens by positively affecting more lives than any other human service agency in the Mukilteo School District area; and

      WHEREAS, The Mukilteo Family YMCA conducts a number of programs designed to provide stimulating and engaging activities for youth and teenagers, including: Before and after child care provided at five elementary schools in the Mukilteo School District, serving all eleven elementary schools; late-night "Friday Night Teen Program" at Mariner High School; "Club Explorer" after-school program at Explorer Middle School; environmental clubs, leadership clubs, summer camps, and partnerships between students and law enforcement, such as "Club Connections" serving Mariner High School; and infant/toddler child care, provided at ACES High School, serving teen parents working towards achieving their high school diploma; and

      WHEREAS, The Mukilteo Family YMCA is planning future programs to include "Late Night" at the Mukilteo Family YMCA serving students from Kamiak, monthly dances at the Mukilteo Family YMCA serving middle school students, and "Teen Court," a leadership club at Mariner High School where the students assume all roles of the courtroom environment while presiding over real cases involving their peers;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate recognize the Snohomish County YMCA for one hundred years of service to the community and the Mukilteo Family YMCA for demonstrating exceptional care and concern for the community through its commitment to our youth; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate immediately transmit a copy of this resolution to the Snohomish County YMCA, the Mukilteo Family YMCA, Jeff Dunleavy, Doug Zook, and each member of the Board of the Mukilteo Family YMCA.

INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS

      The President welcomed and introduced Jeff Dunleavy, Executive Director and Keith Nisbuhr from the Mukilteo Family YMCA, who were seated in the gallery.

INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS

      The President welcomed and introduced Louise Eide, the mother-in-law of Senator Eide, and also her husband, Mark, who were seated in the gallery.

MOTION

      On motion of Senator Honeyford, the following resolution was adopted:

SENATE RESOLUTION 2001-8696

By Senator Honeyford

      WHEREAS, First Baptist Church was a part of a federation of six denominations that jointly founded the first church built in Sunnyside; and

      WHEREAS, First Baptist Church officially organized on April 20, 1901; and

      WHEREAS, First Baptist Church completed construction of their initial worship facility in 1907; and

      WHEREAS, pastors A.H. Lyons; F.F. Schlosser; George C. McClure; J.F. Rorex, Kirkendall; Homer D. Pease; L.W. Terry; J.C. Havnaer; John McAllister; E.H. Tetwiler; I.N. Monroe; Robert Gray; A.B. Baird; Dr. F.W. Carstens; A.U. Logan; J.R.L. Haslem; Aubry Winsor; Lyndall Logee; Michael Petrillo; C. Douglas Honeyford; Lawrence Bral; Jack Galey; Arthur Schulz; Paul Felthouse; Warren Hall; and Dr. Michael Hughes have faithfully and capably served First Baptist since 1901; and

      WHEREAS, residents of Yakima County have been worshiping at First Baptist for one hundred years; and

      WHEREAS, First Baptist Church will be celebrating its one hundredth anniversary at its worship services on June 10, 2001;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate acknowledges and congratulates First Baptist Church on its longevity; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to First Baptist Church.

PERSONAL PRIVILEGE

      Senator Franklin: “A point of personal privilege, Mr. President. Since we have been in the Legislature this session, our lives have been touched by many tragedies. Once again, it has touched close to home last evening on the beautiful campus of Pacific Lutheran University-- my alma mater--and the district I represent. A man went on campus and took a life violently by shooting one of the professors--Professor Holloway, a music professor. The campus is in deep mourning at this point in time.

      “It is also the second tragedy which that university has sustained this year, with the loss of life of a student when a balcony where students were standing, caved in. The Pacific University Campus is a quiet campus. It is a campus which is in the heart of Parkland; It is within the community of Parkland. I have been on that campus. As I said, I am an alumni. As I thought about this, I thought it could have been me. I visit the campus many, many times for meetings and functions. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, for those who are here and listening, we really do not know when tragedy will strike. We think that there are safe places.

      “We think that our students who are in school and college are safe, but when someone, with no connection, writes a sixteen page letter and plans to go onto that campus and kill an innocent person to display his anger and then turn the gun on himself. that is not true. He was taken to the hospital where I had worked for many years, as many of you know, Madigan Medical Center, where he has subsequently died. So, once again, we mourn for what has taken place in our community and for the loss of innocent lives.

      “Mr. President, if we could just have a moment of silence for the campus of Pacific Lutheran University, for Dr. Loren Anderson, who is the President there, and for the students who are trying to deal with this tragedy in their lives at this point in time.”

MOMENT OF SILENCE

      The Senate stood for a moment of silence for the faculty, the friends and the students at Pacific Lutheran University.

MOTION

      At 10:20 a.m., on motion of Senator Betti Sheldon, the Senate was declared to be at ease.

      The Senate was called to order at 11:40 a.m. by President Pro Tempore Franklin.

MOTION

      On motion of Senator Betti Sheldon, the Senate reverted to the sixth order of business.

SECOND READING

      SENATE BILL NO. 6140, by Senators McDonald, Prentice, Horn, Eide, Johnson, Finkbeiner, Patterson, Shin, Benton, Kastama, Costa, McAuliffe, Rossi, Long, Roach, Zarelli and Oke.

      Creating congestion relief boards.

MOTIONS

      On motion of Senator Haugen, Substitute Senate Bill No. 6140 was substituted for Senate Bill No. 6140 and the substitute bill was placed on second reading and read the second time.

      Senator Haugen moved that the following striking amendment by Senators McDonald, Haugen, Gardner and Kastama be adopted:Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

       "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that many transportation decisions are best made at the regional level, where transportation problems are best understood. To achieve improved regional mobility, to promote individual and economic well-being, and to implement recommendation number six of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation final report, relating to regional transportation solutions, regional transportation investment districts are created. It is the purpose of regional transportation investment districts to generate revenues for a limited period of time to assist in the financing of transportation improvements made to highways of statewide significance to improve transportation mobility in congested areas.

       The legislature recognizes that a multimodal approach to the state's transportation system is the best means of addressing transportation needs. For the past decade, little money has been spent on adding capacity to our state's highways of statewide significance. This lack of investment includes major new highway projects to add capacity and lane miles to major state routes, interstates or other freeway systems, as well as associated high-capacity transportation capital improvements such as park and ride facilities, high-occupancy vehicle lanes, transit flyover access ramps to highway lanes, and bus pullouts along highways as means to reduce traffic congestion.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

       (1) "Regional transportation investment district" or "district" means a quasi-municipal corporation whose boundaries are coextensive with one or more counties and which has been created by county legislative authorities and a vote of the people pursuant to this chapter to implement a regional transportation investment plan.

       (2) "Regional transportation investment district planning committee" or "planning committee" means the advisory committee created pursuant to section 3 of this act to create and propose to county legislative authorities a regional transportation investment plan to develop, finance, and construct transportation projects.

       (3) "Regional transportation investment plan" or "plan" means a plan to develop, construct, and finance a transportation project or projects.

       (4) "Highway of statewide significance" means an existing or proposed state route or federal interstate as designated a highway of statewide significance by the transportation commission, its successor entity, or the legislature.

       (5) "Transportation project" or "project" means a capital improvement or improvements to a highway of statewide significance that adds a lane or new lanes to an existing state or federal highway, including associated HOV lanes, flyover ramps, park and ride lots, and bus pullouts.

       (6) "Department" means the Washington state department of transportation.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Regional transportation investment district planning committees are advisory entities which are created, convened, and empowered as follows:

       (1) A county or, by agreement, multiple contiguous counties, may choose to create a regional transportation investment district and convene a regional transportation investment district planning committee.

       (2) If a regional transportation investment district planning committee is formed, each county commissioner or councilmember from each participating county shall appoint one member to the planning committee. The appointee must be a resident of the county the commissioner or councilmember serves, and, if the commissioner or councilmember is nominated or elected from a commissioner or councilmember district, then the appointee must also be a resident of that district. The appointee shall not be an elected federal, state, county, or city official. Members of the planning committee serve at the pleasure of the appointing councilmember or commissioner and shall receive no compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel and incidental expenses as the planning committee deems appropriate: PROVIDED, That in the event that a planning committee elects an executive board, then each member of the executive board may receive compensation of fifty dollars per day for attending meetings or conferences on behalf of the district, not to exceed three thousand dollars per year. An executive board member may waive all or a portion of his or her compensation. Compensation provided in this section is in addition to reimbursement for expenses paid by the planning committee.

       (3) A regional transportation investment district planning committee may be entitled to state funding, as appropriated by the legislature, for start-up funding to pay for salaries, expenses, overhead, supplies, and similar expenses ordinarily and necessarily incurred in selecting transportation projects and funding for those projects under this chapter. Upon creation of a regional transportation investment district, the district shall reimburse the state for any sums advanced for these start-up costs from the state.

       (4) At its first meeting, a regional transportation investment district planning committee may elect officers and provide for the adoption of rules and other operating procedures. Except as provided in section 15 of this act, the planning committee may elect, from its membership, an executive board to discharge the duties of the planning committee and formulate a regional transportation investment plan, subject to the approval of the full planning committee.

       (5) Governance of and decisions by a regional transportation investment district planning committee shall be by majority vote of the total membership. In the event that the planning committee has been convened by multiple counties, each member's vote shall be weighted to reflect the population he or she represents relative to the population represented by the total planning committee membership. Population shall be determined utilizing the national 2000 census or subsequent national census data.

       (6) At any time, with a two-thirds vote of the membership of the planning committee, the planning committee may dissolve itself.

       (7) A regional transportation investment district planning committee or if applicable, its executive board, shall convene, from time to time and as appropriate, to create and adopt a regional transportation investment plan providing for the selection, development, construction, and financing of transportation projects. The regional transportation investment plan should consider transportation and land use planning. The planning committee may coordinate its activities with the department, which shall provide services, data, and personnel to assist in this planning as desired by the planning committee. In addition, the planning committee may also coordinate with such other local governments and entities that engage in transportation planning.

       (8) A planning committee shall select transportation projects to reduce traffic congestion and will create a regional transportation investment plan providing for the development, construction, and financing of the transportation project or projects to be constructed to submit to the county legislative authorities.

       (9) A regional transportation investment district planning committee may, as part of a regional transportation investment plan, recommend the imposition of some or all of the following revenue sources:

       (a) A regional sales and use tax of up to 0.5 percent of the selling price, in the case of a sales tax, or value of the article used, in the case of a use tax. The tax authorized pursuant to this section shall be in addition to the tax authorized by RCW 82.14.030 and shall be collected from those persons who are taxable by the state pursuant to chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable event within the taxing district. Motor vehicles, as defined in RCW 46.04.320, are exempt from the sales and use tax imposed under this subsection (9)(a);

       (b) A use tax imposed on the privilege of using a motor vehicle within a regional transportation investment district. The tax applies to those persons who reside within the regional transportation investment district. The rate of the tax may not exceed 0.5 percent of the value of the motor vehicle. The tax authorized by this subsection is in addition to the tax authorized under RCW 82.14.030 and shall be imposed and collected at the time a taxable event under RCW 82.08.020(1) or 82.12.020 takes place. All revenue received under this subsection (9)(b) shall be deposited in the local sales and use tax account and distributed to the regional transportation investment district according to RCW 82.14.050. The following provisions shall apply to the use tax in this subsection (9)(b):

       (i) In such cases where persons are taxable under chapter 82.08 RCW, the seller shall collect the use tax from the buyer using the collection provisions set forth in RCW 82.08.050.

       (ii) In such cases where persons are taxable under chapter 82.12 RCW, the use tax shall be collected using the provisions set forth in RCW 82.12.045.

       (iii) "Motor vehicle" has the meaning given in RCW 46.04.320.

       (iv) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030.

       (v) The value of a motor vehicle shall be determined by the method prescribed in RCW 82.12.010.

       (vi) Except as specifically stated in this subsection (9)(b), the provisions of chapters 82.12 and 82.32 RCW shall apply to the use tax. The use tax is a local tax imposed under the authority of chapter 82.14 RCW and the provisions of chapter 82.14 RCW apply fully to the use tax;

       (c) A motor vehicle, as defined in RCW 46.04.320, license fee of up to one hundred dollars per vehicle registered in the district. The department of licensing shall administer and collect this fee on behalf of a regional transportation investment district and remit this fee to the custody of the state treasurer, who shall distribute it as directed by a regional transportation investment district;

       (d) A commercial parking fee of up to ten percent of the cost charged per parking transaction; and

       (e) Vehicle tolls on state routes where improvements under this act add additional lanes to a highway of statewide significance. The collection of vehicle tolls on designated facilities shall be administered by the department, unless otherwise specified in law, and the state transportation commission, or its successor, shall be the tolling authority. Specifically for projects where vehicle tolls are collected, as authorized under this subsection (9)(e), the state sales tax imposed and actually collected under chapters 82.08 and 82.12 RCW, less any credits allowed under chapter 82.14 RCW, on initial construction for any project upon which tolls are to be imposed under this section shall be transferred to the motor vehicle fund. It is the legislature's intent that this transaction shall be exempt from the fiscal growth factor in RCW 43.135.055 and will be identified as a credit on the project, thereby lowering the overall cost of the project and the corresponding tolls.

       (10) Taxes shall not be imposed without an affirmative vote of the people within the boundaries of the county or counties as set forth in this chapter. Revenues from these taxes may be used only to support the implementation, by a regional transportation investment district, of a regional transportation investment plan to construct transportation projects. A regional transportation investment district may contract with the state department of revenue or other appropriate entities for administration and collection of any of the taxes or fees authorized in this section.

       (11) In addition to those taxes adopted pursuant to this act, a county or city may use any of its existing taxing authority to provide funds for a transportation project being constructed by a regional transportation investment district.

       (12) A combination of local, state, and federal revenues may be necessary to pay for transportation projects, and the planning committee shall consider all of these revenue sources in developing a financing and funding plan. In particular, state and federal matching funds of up to sixty percent of the total costs as provided in section 11 of this act shall be considered.

       (13) Upon adoption, by majority vote of the appointed members and utilizing proportional weighted voting in the case of multiple counties, of the regional transportation investment plan by the planning committee, the planning committee shall immediately transmit the regional transportation investment plan to the county legislative authority or authorities which convened the regional transportation investment district planning committee. The plan shall include a proposed ballot measure to be submitted to a vote of the people within the county or counties. This ballot measure shall call for the creation of a regional transportation investment district; specify the transportation project or projects to be constructed; specify the anticipated timeline for completion of the transportation project or projects to be constructed; and specify the tax or taxes to be imposed, the anticipated duration of the taxes imposed, and the total amount of revenue estimated to be collected.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A regional transportation investment district is a quasi-municipal corporation which shall be formed in the following manner:

       (1) The legislative authority of the county, or in the case of multiple counties, the legislative authorities, which convened the planning committee shall decide by resolution whether to adopt the regional transportation investment plan submitted by a regional transportation investment district planning committee and participate in the regional transportation investment district. This action shall be completed within sixty days following receipt of the planning committee's adopted plan.

       (2) If any county opts not to adopt the plan or participate in the regional transportation investment district, but one or more contiguous counties do choose to continue to participate, then the planning committee may, within ninety days, redefine the regional transportation investment plan, and the ballot measure to be submitted to the people, to reflect elimination of one or more counties, and submit the redefined plan to the legislative authorities of the remaining counties for their decision as to whether to continue to adopt the redefined plan and participate. This action shall be completed within sixty days following receipt of the redefined plan.

       (3) The legislative authorities of the county or counties deciding to participate shall place on the ballot, at the next general election or at a special election called for this purpose, the single ballot proposition adopted by the planning committee. The county legislative authorities may not alter the plan or ballot measure adopted by the planning committee and approved by the legislative authority or authorities. Only those registered voters residing within the county or counties participating shall vote on the ballot measure.

       A simple majority of those voting within the county or counties is required for approval. If the vote is affirmative, then the regional transportation investment district is created.

       (4) If the vote fails, then the planning committee may redefine the selected projects, the construction and financing plan, and the ballot measure proposition. The county legislative authorities may approve the new plan and ballot measure, and may then submit the revised proposition to the voters at the next election or a special election. No single proposition may be submitted to the voters more than three times.

       If a positive vote on a proposition is not achieved by the third vote, then the planning committee shall be dissolved within sixty days.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. If the voters approve the plan creating a regional transportation investment district, the district will be declared formed. The county election official of a county must, within fifteen days of the final certification of the election results, publish a notice in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation in the district declaring the district formed, and must mail copies of the notice to the governor, the secretary of transportation, and the executive director of each regional transportation planning organization which has part or all of any participating county within its boundaries. A party challenging the formation of a voter-approved district must file a lawsuit challenging the district's formation within thirty days after the final certification of the election, and shall serve notice of the lawsuit upon each county participating in the district. Failure to challenge within that time forever bars further challenge of the district's valid formation.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Membership of a regional transportation investment district shall be composed of one representative from each county council or commission district within the regional transportation investment district.

       (1) The initial membership of a regional transportation investment district created pursuant to this chapter shall be composed of the members of the regional transportation investment district planning committee. Members serve at the pleasure of the county commissioner or councilmember representing the district from which the initial appointment was made to the planning committee.

       (2) In the event of a vacancy, the county commissioner or councilmember representing the district from which the initial appointment was made shall appoint a replacement member to the district. The appointee must be a resident of the county the commissioner or councilmember serves, and if the commissioner or councilmember is nominated or elected from a commissioner or councilmember district, then the appointee must also be a resident of that district. The appointee shall not be an elected federal, state, county, or city official. Members of a district serve at the pleasure of the appointing county commissioner or councilmember.

       (3) Members of the regional transportation investment district shall receive no compensation, but may receive per diem and be reimbursed for travel and incidental expenses as the district deems appropriate: PROVIDED, That in the event a district elects an executive board, then each member of the executive board may receive compensation of fifty dollars per day for attending meetings or conferences on behalf of the district, not to exceed three thousand dollars per year. An executive board member may waive all or a portion of his or her compensation. Compensation provided in this section is in addition to reimbursement for expenses paid by the district.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. (1) A regional transportation investment district shall meet from time to time as necessary to oversee the implementation of the regional transportation investment plan. At its first meeting, the regional transportation investment district planning committee may elect officers and provide for the adoption of rules and other operating procedures. Except as provided in section 15 of this act, the district may elect, from its membership, an executive board to discharge the duties of the district and implement the regional transportation investment plan, subject to the approval of the full district membership. Governance of and decisions by a regional transportation investment district shall be by majority vote of the total membership. In the event that the district is composed of multiple counties, each member's vote shall be weighted to reflect the population he or she represents relative to the population represented by the total district membership. Population shall be determined utilizing the national 2000 census or subsequent national census data.

       (2) A regional transportation investment district is a body corporate and shall have the powers necessary and incidental to overseeing the implementation of a regional transportation investment plan approved by the voters under this act, including but not limited to:

       (a) The authority to hire no more than six employees, including, if it chooses, a director or executive officer, a treasurer or financial officer, a project manager or engineer, legal counsel, a project permit coordinator, and clerical staff; and

        (b) The authority to pay for services and enter into contracts, including professional service contracts.

       (3) A regional transportation investment district does not have the authority to acquire, hold, or dispose of real property.

       (4) A regional transportation investment district shall not own, operate, or maintain any ongoing facility, road, or transportation system.

       (5) A regional transportation investment district may accept and expend or use gifts, grants, or donations.

       (6) A regional transportation investment district may coordinate its activities with the department, which shall provide services, data, and personnel to assist as desired by the regional transportation investment district.

       (7) It is the intent of the legislature that administrative and overhead costs of a regional transportation investment district be minimized. For projects costing up to fifty million dollars, administrative and overhead costs may not exceed three percent of the total construction and design project costs per year. For projects costing in excess of fifty million dollars, administrative and overhead costs shall be no more than three percent of the first fifty million dollars in costs, plus an additional one-tenth of one percent for each additional dollar above fifty million. These limitations apply only to the district, and shall not be construed as limiting the administration or expenditures of the department of transportation.

       (8) A regional transportation investment district may not substantially vary the regional transportation investment plan or the projects to be constructed. Minor variations or deviations as to the timeline, project plans, or right-of-way, and of up to five percent of the total costs may be made, but in no case may the district add to or delete from the plan projects to be constructed. Major revisions to the plan, including the addition or deletion of projects to be constructed, must be submitted first to the county legislative authorities and then a vote of the people in the same manner as provided for the initial plan under this chapter.

       (9) To assure accountability to the public for the timely construction of the transportation project or projects within cost projections, the district shall issue a public report every year on the progress made in implementing the regional transportation investment plan. In the report, the district shall detail progress in two areas: (a) Whether the project or projects costs-to-date are within the amount of revenue raised for the project or projects under the vote of the people as provided in section 4 of this act; and (b) whether the project or projects are proceeding in accordance with the original construction schedule. If the progress of a project or projects is inconsistent with either the cost projections or timelines, the district shall provide the public with a plan to move the project or projects back into compliance with the original construction schedule and cost projections.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The regional transportation investment district, by resolution, shall designate a person having experience in financial or fiscal matters as treasurer of the district. The district may designate the treasurer of a county within which the district is located to act as its treasurer. Such a treasurer shall possess all of the powers, responsibilities, and duties the county treasurer possesses related to investing surplus funds. The district shall require a bond with a surety company authorized to do business in the state of Washington in an amount and under the terms and conditions the district, by resolution, from time to time finds will protect the district against loss. The premium on any such bond shall be paid by the district.

       All district funds shall be paid to the treasurer and shall be disbursed by the treasurer only on warrants issued by district upon orders or vouchers approved by the district.

       The treasurer shall establish a special fund, into which shall be paid all district funds, and the treasurer shall maintain such special accounts as may be created by the district into which shall be placed all money as the district may, by resolution, direct.

       If the treasurer of the district is the treasurer of a county, all district funds shall be deposited with the county depositary under the same restrictions, contracts, and security as provided for county depositaries. If the treasurer of the district is some other person, all funds shall be deposited in such bank or banks authorized to do business in this state that have qualified for insured deposits under any federal deposit insurance act as the district, by resolution, shall designate.

       The district may provide and require a reasonable bond of any other person handling moneys or securities of the district, but the district shall pay the premium on the bond.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The district may not issue any debt of its own for more than two years' duration. A district may enter into agreements with the state to pledge taxes or other revenues of the district for the purpose of paying in part or whole principal and interest on bonds issued by the state. The contracts pledging revenues and taxes shall be binding for the term of the agreement, but not to exceed twenty-five years, and no tax pledged by an agreement may be eliminated or modified if it would impair the pledge of the agreement.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. (1) The department shall create a division of dedicated staff and services whose sole responsibility is to coordinate the design, preliminary engineering, permitting, financing, and construction of projects under consideration by a regional transportation investment district planning committee or which are part of a regional transportation investment plan being implemented by a regional transportation investment district.

       (2) All of the powers granted the department pursuant to Title 47 RCW relating to highway construction may, at the request of a regional transportation investment district, be utilized to implement a regional transportation investment plan and construct transportation projects.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. (1) A regional transportation investment district is eligible for state and federal matching funds of up to sixty percent of the total costs of a transportation project or series of projects being constructed by a regional transportation investment district. A regional transportation investment district need not utilize matching funds, and nothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting a regional transportation investment district from funding and paying all or more than forty percent of the total costs of a transportation project or series of projects being constructed.

       (2) The regional transportation investment district matching account is hereby created within the state treasury. The regional transportation investment district matching account shall be administered by the state treasurer. Funds appropriated by the legislature as matching state money for a transportation project or series of projects being constructed by a regional transportation investment district shall be deposited into this account. The purpose of this account is to serve as an account from which payments for transportation projects being constructed by a regional transportation investment district may be made. Payments from this account may be made as follows:

       (a) The state may pay for its share of up to sixty percent, including federal funds, of the total costs of a transportation project or series of projects being constructed by a regional transportation investment district from funds appropriated to this account by the legislature for this purpose; and

       (b) A regional transportation investment district may also transfer money to this account to pay for its share of any transportation projects being constructed by the state on behalf of that regional transportation investment district, or for payment of any bonds, debt, or other financing incurred by the state on its behalf to construct such projects. The state may then use these transfers to make payments on the district's behalf.

       All moneys deposited in the regional transportation investment district matching account shall be invested by the state treasurer. Funds within the regional transportation investment district matching account shall be used solely to pay for transportation projects being constructed by a regional transportation investment district.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. The department or district may use the design-build procedure for projects developed by a regional transportation investment district. As used in this section "design-build procedure" means a method of contracting under which the department or district contracts with another party for such party to both design and build the structures, facilities, and other items specified in the contract.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. Within thirty days of the completion of the construction of the project or series of projects forming the regional transportation investment plan, the district shall terminate day-to-day operations and exist solely as a limited entity which oversees the collection of revenue and the payment of any debt service or financing still in effect, if any. The district shall adjust its employees, administration, and overhead expenses downward accordingly. Any taxes imposed pursuant to an approved plan shall terminate when the financing or debt service on the project or series of projects constructed is completed and paid, thirty days from which point the district shall dissolve itself and cease to exist. If there is no debt outstanding, then the district shall dissolve within thirty days from completion of construction of the project or series of projects forming the regional transportation investment plan.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. Any transportation project constructed pursuant to this chapter becomes and remains the property of the state of Washington.

       NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. The legislature finds that regional solutions to the state's transportation needs are of paramount concern. The legislature further recognizes that different areas of the state will need the flexibility to fashion local solutions to their transportation problems, and that regional transportation systems may evolve over time.

       (1) The central Puget Sound regional transportation investment district planning committee is hereby created as a pilot project, and consists of the counties of King, Pierce, and Snohomish. The planning committee shall conduct its affairs and formulate a regional transportation investment plan as provided under section 3 of this act, except that it shall elect an executive board of seven members to discharge the duties of the planning committee and formulate a regional transportation investment plan, subject to the approval of the full planning committee. All other provisions of this chapter shall apply to this pilot project.

       (2) Areas of the state outside of King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties shall be eligible for grants from the state of one hundred fifty thousand dollars or more to study and develop regional transportation models. Regions electing to participate in this pilot program shall develop a model that can be used in other parts of the state and shall report to the transportation committees in the senate and house of representatives on the positive and negative aspects of the model as well as costs associated with it no later than June 30, 2002.

       Sec. 16. RCW 43.84.092 and 2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 5 are each amended to read as follows: