In addition to those prescribed by the Constitution, the governor may exercise the powers and perform the duties prescribed in this and the following sections:
The governor shall supervise the conduct of all executive and ministerial offices;
The governor shall see that all offices are filled, including as provided in RCW 42.12.070, and the duties thereof performed, or in default thereof, apply such remedy as the law allows; and if the remedy is imperfect, acquaint the legislature therewith at its next session;
The governor shall make the appointments and supply the vacancies mentioned in this title;
The governor is the sole official organ of communication between the government of this state and the government of any other state or territory, or of the United States;
Whenever any suit or legal proceeding is pending against this state, or which may affect the title of this state to any property, or which may result in any claim against the state, the governor may direct the attorney general to appear on behalf of the state, and report the same to the governor, or to any grand jury designated by the governor, or to the legislature when next in session;
The governor may require the attorney general or any prosecuting attorney to inquire into the affairs or management of any corporation existing under the laws of this state, or doing business in this state, and report the same to the governor, or to any grand jury designated by the governor, or to the legislature when next in session;
The governor may require the attorney general to aid any prosecuting attorney in the discharge of the prosecutor's duties;
The governor may offer rewards, not exceeding one thousand dollars in each case, payable out of the state treasury, for information leading to the apprehension of any person convicted of a felony who has escaped from a state correctional institution or for information leading to the arrest of any person who has committed or is charged with the commission of a felony;
The governor shall perform such duties respecting fugitives from justice as are prescribed by law;
The governor shall issue and transmit election proclamations as prescribed by law;
The governor may require any officer or board to make, upon demand, special reports to the governor, in writing;
The governor may, after finding that a public disorder, disaster, energy emergency, or riot exists within this state or any part thereof which affects life, health, property, or the public peace, proclaim a state of emergency in the area affected, and the powers granted the governor during a state of emergency shall be effective only within the area described in the proclamation;
The governor may, after finding that there exists within this state an imminent danger of infestation of plant pests as defined in RCW 17.24.007 or plant diseases which seriously endangers the agricultural or horticultural industries of the state of Washington, or which seriously threatens life, health, or economic well-being, order emergency measures to prevent or abate the infestation or disease situation, which measures, after thorough evaluation of all other alternatives, may include the aerial application of pesticides;
The governor, after finding that a prohibited level 1 or level 2 species as defined in chapter 77.135 RCW has been detected and after finding that the detected species seriously endangers or threatens the environment, economy, human health, or well-being of the state of Washington, may order emergency measures to prevent or abate the prohibited species, which measures, after thorough evaluation of all other alternatives, may include the surface or aerial application of pesticides;
On all compacts forwarded to the governor pursuant to RCW 9.46.360(6), the governor is authorized and empowered to execute on behalf of the state compacts with federally recognized Indian tribes in the state of Washington pursuant to the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. Sec. 2701 et seq., for conducting class III gaming, as defined in the Act, on Indian lands.
[ 2014 c 202 § 305; 1994 c 223 § 3; 1993 c 142 § 5; 1992 c 172 § 1; 1991 c 257 § 22; 1982 c 153 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 53 § 4; 1977 ex.s. c 289 § 15; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 108 § 25; 1969 ex.s. c 186 § 8; 1965 c 8 § 43.06.010; 1890 p 627 § 1; RRS § 10982; ]
When requested by the governor or the director of the department of enterprise services, nonconviction criminal history fingerprint record checks shall be conducted through the Washington state patrol identification and criminal history section and the federal bureau of investigation on applicants for agency head positions appointed by the governor. Information received pursuant to this section shall be confidential and made available only to the governor or director of financial management or their employees directly involved in the selection, hiring, or background investigation of the subject of the record check. When necessary, applicants may be employed on a conditional basis pending completion of the criminal history record check. "Agency head" as used in this section has the same definition as provided in RCW 34.05.010.
[ 2015 3rd sp.s. c 1 § 320; 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 § 454; 2006 c 45 § 1; ]
The governor is authorized, on behalf of the state of Washington, to join the interstate oil compact commission as an associate member and to become an active member thereof if and when oil and gas are produced in Washington in commercial quantities and to attend meetings and participate in the activities carried on by said commission either in person or by a duly authorized representative.
[ 1965 c 8 § 43.06.015; 1953 c 47 § 1; ]
The governor must cause to be kept the following records:
First, a register of all pardons, commutations, executive paroles, final discharges, and restorations of citizenship made by him or her;
Second, an account of all his or her disbursements of state moneys, and of all rewards offered by him or her for the apprehension of criminals and persons charged with crime;
Third, a register of all appointments made by him or her with date of commission, name of appointee and name of predecessor, if any.
[ 2009 c 549 § 5013; 1965 c 8 § 43.06.020; 1921 c 28 § 1; 1890 p 628 § 2; RRS § 10983; ]
For a gubernatorial appointment to be effective, the governor must transmit to the secretary of the senate notice of the appointment, along with pertinent information regarding the appointee, within fourteen days after making any appointment subject to senate confirmation.
[ 1981 c 338 § 12; 1965 c 8 § 43.06.030; 1890 p 629 § 3; RRS § 10984; ]
If the governor absents himself or herself from the state, he or she shall, prior to his or her departure, notify the lieutenant governor of his or her proposed absence, and during such absence the lieutenant governor shall perform all the duties of the governor.
[ 2009 c 549 § 5014; 1965 c 8 § 43.06.040; 1890 p 629 § 6; RRS § 10985; ]
Every provision of law in relation to the powers and duties of the governor, and in relation to acts and duties to be performed by others towards him or her, extends to the person performing for the time being the duties of governor.
[ 2009 c 549 § 5015; 1965 c 8 § 43.06.050; 1890 p 629 § 4; RRS § 10986; ]
The legislature preceding the gubernatorial election shall make an appropriation which may only be expended by a newly elected governor other than the incumbent for the purpose of providing office and staff for the governor-elect preparatory to his or her assumption of duties as governor. The funds for the appropriation shall be made available to him or her not later than thirty days prior to the date when the legislature will convene.
[ 2009 c 549 § 5016; 1969 ex.s. c 88 § 1; ]
When the governor is authorized or required by law to issue a proclamation, payment for publishing it shall be made out of the state treasury.
[ 1965 c 8 § 43.06.060; 1881 p 45 §§ 1-3; Code 1881 § 2367; RRS § 10988; ]
The governor may remove from office any state officer appointed by him or her not liable to impeachment, for incompetency, misconduct, or malfeasance in office.
[ 2009 c 549 § 5017; 1965 c 8 § 43.06.070; 1893 c 101 § 1; RRS § 10988; ]
Whenever the governor is satisfied that any officer not liable to impeachment has been guilty of misconduct, or malfeasance in office, or is incompetent, he or she shall file with the secretary of state a statement showing his or her reasons, with his or her order of removal, and the secretary of state shall forthwith send a certified copy of such order of removal and statement of causes by registered mail to the last known post office address of the officer in question.
[ 2009 c 549 § 5018; 1965 c 8 § 43.06.080; 1893 c 101 § 2; RRS § 10989; ]
At the time of making any removal from office, the governor shall appoint some proper person to fill the office, who shall forthwith demand and receive from the officer removed the papers, records, and property of the state pertaining to the office, and shall perform the duties of the office and receive the compensation thereof until his or her successor is appointed.
[ 2009 c 549 § 5019; 1965 c 8 § 43.06.090; 1893 c 101 § 3; RRS § 10990; ]
Any gubernatorial appointee subject to senate confirmation shall continue to serve unless rejected by a vote of the senate. An appointee who is rejected by a vote of the senate shall not be reappointed to the same position for a period of one year from termination of service.
Any person appointed by the governor to fill the unexpired term of an appointment subject to senate confirmation must also be confirmed by the senate.
[ 1981 c 338 § 2; ]
Gubernatorial appointees subject to senate confirmation, other than those who serve at the governor's pleasure, may not be removed from office without cause by the governor prior to confirmation except upon consent of the senate as provided for by the rules of the senate.
[ 1981 c 338 § 1; ]
The governor, or his or her designee, is hereby authorized and empowered to undertake such programs as will, in the judgment of the governor, or his or her designee, enable families and individuals of all ages, in rural and urban areas, in need of the skills, knowledge, motivations, and opportunities to become economically self-sufficient to obtain and secure such skills, knowledge, motivations, and opportunities. Such programs may be engaged in as solely state operations, or in conjunction or cooperation with any appropriate agency of the federal government, any branch or agency of the government of this state, any city or town, county, municipal corporation, metropolitan municipal corporation or other political subdivision of the state, or any private corporation. Where compliance with the provisions of federal law or rules or regulations promulgated thereunder is a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state, the governor or his or her designee, is hereby authorized to comply with such laws, rules or regulations to the extent necessary for the state to cooperate most fully with the federal government in furtherance of the programs herein authorized.
[ 2009 c 549 § 5020; 1971 ex.s. c 177 § 2; 1965 c 14 § 2; ]
The governor may, by executive order, after consultation with or notification of the executive-legislative committee on economic development created by *chapter . . . (Senate Bill No. 5300), Laws of 1993, declare a community to be a "military impacted area." A "military impacted area" means a community or communities, as identified in the executive order, that experience serious social and economic hardships because of a change in defense spending by the federal government in that community or communities.
If the governor executes an order under subsection (1) of this section, the governor shall establish a response team to coordinate state efforts to assist the military impacted community. The response team may include, but not be limited to, one member from each of the following agencies: (a) The department of commerce; (b) the department of social and health services; (c) the employment security department; (d) the state board for community and technical colleges; (e) the student achievement council; and (f) the department of transportation. The governor may appoint a response team coordinator. The governor shall seek to actively involve the impacted community or communities in planning and implementing a response to the crisis. The governor may seek input or assistance from the community diversification advisory committee, and the governor may establish task forces in the community or communities to assist in the coordination and delivery of services to the local community. The state and community response shall consider economic development, human service, and training needs of the community or communities impacted.
[ 2012 c 229 § 583; 1998 c 245 § 47; 1996 c 186 § 505; 1995 c 399 § 61; 1993 c 421 § 2; ]
The governor is authorized to accept on behalf of the state of Washington funds provided by any act of congress for the benefit of the state or its political subdivisions. He or she is further authorized to administer and disburse such funds, or to designate an agency to administer and disburse them, until the legislature otherwise directs.
[ 2009 c 549 § 5021; 1967 ex.s. c 41 § 1; ]
Members of advisory committees, councils, or other bodies established to meet requirements of acts of congress may be paid travel expenses incurred pursuant to RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now existing or hereafter amended from such funds as may be available by legislative appropriation or as may otherwise be available as provided by law.
[ 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 34 § 97; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 17 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 41 § 2; ]
See RCW 43.88.205.
[ ]
The following principles shall provide guidance to the state of Washington in its health care reform deliberations:
Guarantee choice. Provide the people of Washington state with a choice of health plans and physicians, including health plans offered through the private insurance market and public programs, for those who meet eligibility standards. People will be allowed to keep their own doctor and their employer-based health plan.
Make health coverage affordable. Reduce waste and fraud, high administrative costs, unnecessary tests and services, and other inefficiencies that drive up costs with no added health benefits.
Protect families' financial health. Reduce the growing premiums and other costs that the people of Washington state pay for health care. People must be protected from bankruptcy due to catastrophic illness.
Invest in prevention and wellness. Invest in public health measures proven to reduce cost drivers in our system, such as obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and smoking, as well as guarantee access to proven preventive treatments.
Provide portability of coverage. People should not be locked into their job just to secure health coverage, and no American should be denied coverage because of preexisting conditions.
Aim for universality. Building on the work of the blue ribbon commission and other state health care reform initiatives and recognizing the current economic climate, the state will partner with national health care reform efforts toward a goal of enabling all Washingtonians to have access to affordable, effective health care by 2014 as economic conditions and national reforms indicate.
Improve patient safety and quality care. Ensure the implementation of proven patient safety measures and provide incentives for changes in the delivery system to reduce unnecessary variability in patient care. Support the widespread use of health information technology with rigorous privacy protections and the development of data on the effectiveness of medical interventions to improve the quality of care delivered.
Maintain long-term fiscal sustainability. Any reform plan must pay for itself by reducing the level of cost growth, improving productivity, dedicating additional sources of revenue, and defining the appropriate role of the private and public sectors in financing health care coverage in Washington state.
Over the past twenty years, both the private and public health care sectors in the state of Washington have implemented policies that are consistent with the principles in subsection (1) of this section. Most recently, the governor's blue ribbon commission on health reform agreed to recommendations that are highly consistent with those principles. Current policies in Washington state in accord with those principles include:
With respect to aiming for universality and access to a choice of affordable health care plans and health care providers:
The Washington basic health plan offers affordable health coverage to low-income families and individuals in Washington state through a choice of private managed health care plans and health care providers;
Apple health for kids will achieve its dual goals that every child in Washington state have health care coverage by 2010 and that the health status of children in Washington state be improved. Only four percent of children in Washington state lack health insurance, due largely to efforts to expand coverage that began in 1993;
Through the health insurance partnership program, Washington state has designed the infrastructure for a health insurance exchange for small employers that would give employers and employees a choice of private health benefit plans and health care providers, offer portability of coverage and provide a mechanism to offer premium subsidies to low-wage employees of these employers;
Purchasers, insurance carriers, and health care providers are working together to significantly reduce health care administrative costs. These efforts have already produced efficiencies, and will continue through the activities provided in *Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5346, if enacted by the 2009 legislature; and
Over one hundred thousand Washingtonians have enrolled in the state's discount prescription drug card program, saving consumers over six million dollars in prescription drug costs since February 2007, with an average discount of twenty-two dollars or forty-three percent of the price of each prescription filled.
With respect to improving patient safety and quality of care and investing in prevention and wellness, the public and private health care sectors are engaged in numerous nationally recognized efforts:
The Puget Sound health alliance is a national leader in identifying evidence-based health care practices, and reporting to the public on health care provider performance with respect to these practices. Many of these practices address disease prevention and management of chronic illness;
The Washington state health technology assessment program and prescription drug program use medical evidence and independent clinical advisors to guide the purchasing of clinically and cost-effective health care services by state purchased health care programs;
Washington state's health record bank pilot projects are testing a new model of patient controlled electronic health records in three geographic regions of the state. The state has also provided grants to a number of small provider practices to help them implement electronic health records;
Efforts are underway to ensure that the people of Washington state have a medical home, with primary care providers able to understand their needs, meet their care needs effectively, better manage their chronic illnesses, and coordinate their care across the health care system. These efforts include group health cooperative of Puget Sound's medical home projects, care collaboratives sponsored by the state department of health, state agency chronic care management pilot projects, development of apple health for kids health improvement measures as indicators of children having a medical home, and implementation of medical home reimbursement pilot projects under **Substitute Senate Bill No. 5891, if enacted by the 2009 legislature; and
Health care providers, purchasers, the state, and private quality improvement organizations are partnering to undertake numerous patient safety efforts, including hospital and ambulatory surgery center adverse events reporting, with root cause analysis to identify actions to be undertaken to prevent further adverse events; reporting of hospital acquired infections and undertaking efforts to reduce the rate of these infections; developing a surgical care outcomes assessment program that includes a presurgery checklist to reduce medical errors; and developing a patient decision aid pilot to more fully inform patients of the risks and benefits of treatment alternatives, decrease unnecessary procedures and variation in care, and provide increased legal protection to physicians whose patients use a patient decision aid to provide informed consent.
[ 2009 c 545 § 2; ]
Unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, the following words and phrases as hereinafter used in RCW 43.06.010, and 43.06.200 through 43.06.270 each as now or hereafter amended shall have the following meaning:
"State of emergency" means an emergency proclaimed as such by the governor pursuant to RCW 43.06.010 as now or hereafter amended.
"Governor" means the governor of this state or, in case of his or her removal, death, resignation or inability to discharge the powers and duties of his or her office, then the person who may exercise the powers of governor pursuant to the Constitution and laws of this state relating to succession in office.
"Criminal offense" means any prohibited act for which any criminal penalty is imposed by law and includes any misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony.
[ 2009 c 549 § 5022; 1977 ex.s. c 328 § 11; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 108 § 26; 1969 ex.s. c 186 § 1; ]
The proclamation of a state of emergency and other proclamations or orders issued by the governor pursuant to RCW 43.06.010, and 43.06.200 through 43.06.270 as now or hereafter amended shall be in writing and shall be signed by the governor and shall then be filed with the secretary of state. A proclamation of a state of emergency is effective upon the governor's signature. The governor shall give as much public notice as practical through the news media of the issuance of proclamations or orders pursuant to RCW 43.06.010, and 43.06.200 through 43.06.270 as now or hereafter amended. The state of emergency shall cease to exist upon the issuance of a proclamation of the governor declaring its termination: PROVIDED, That the governor must terminate said state of emergency proclamation when order has been restored in the area affected.
[ 2013 c 21 § 1; 1977 ex.s. c 328 § 12; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 108 § 27; 1969 ex.s. c 186 § 2; ]
The governor after proclaiming a state of emergency and prior to terminating such, may, in the area described by the proclamation issue an order prohibiting:
Any person being on the public streets, or in the public parks, or at any other public place during the hours declared by the governor to be a period of curfew;
Any number of persons, as designated by the governor, from assembling or gathering on the public streets, parks, or other open areas of this state, either public or private;
The manufacture, transfer, use, possession or transportation of a molotov cocktail or any other device, instrument or object designed to explode or produce uncontained combustion;
The transporting, possessing or using of gasoline, kerosene, or combustible, flammable, or explosive liquids or materials in a glass or uncapped container of any kind except in connection with the normal operation of motor vehicles, normal home use or legitimate commercial use;
The sale, purchase or dispensing of alcoholic beverages;
The sale, purchase or dispensing of other commodities or goods, as he or she reasonably believes should be prohibited to help preserve and maintain life, health, property or the public peace;
The use of certain streets, highways or public ways by the public; and
Such other activities as he or she reasonably believes should be prohibited to help preserve and maintain life, health, property or the public peace.
The governor after proclaiming a state of emergency and prior to terminating such may, in the area described by the proclamation, issue an order or orders concerning waiver or suspension of statutory obligations or limitations in the following areas:
Liability for participation in interlocal agreements;
Inspection fees owed to the department of labor and industries;
Application of the family emergency assistance program;
Regulations, tariffs, and notice requirements under the jurisdiction of the utilities and transportation commission;
Application of tax due dates and penalties relating to collection of taxes;
Permits for industrial, business, or medical uses of alcohol; and
Such other statutory and regulatory obligations or limitations prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business, or the orders, rules, or regulations of any state agency if strict compliance with the provision of any statute, order, rule, or regulation would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with the emergency, unless (i) authority to waive or suspend a specific statutory or regulatory obligation or limitation has been expressly granted to another statewide elected official, (ii) the waiver or suspension would conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, or (iii) the waiver or suspension would conflict with the rights, under the First Amendment, of freedom of speech or of the people to peaceably assemble. The governor shall give as much notice as practical to legislative leadership and impacted local governments when issuing orders under this subsection (2)(g).
In imposing the restrictions provided for by RCW 43.06.010, and 43.06.200 through 43.06.270, the governor may impose them for such times, upon such conditions, with such exceptions and in such areas of this state he or she from time to time deems necessary.
No order or orders concerning waiver or suspension of statutory obligations or limitations under subsection (2) of this section may continue for longer than thirty days unless extended by the legislature through concurrent resolution. If the legislature is not in session, the waiver or suspension of statutory obligations or limitations may be extended in writing by the leadership of the senate and the house of representatives until the legislature can extend the waiver or suspension by concurrent resolution. For purposes of this section, "leadership of the senate and the house of representatives" means the majority and minority leaders of the senate and the speaker and the minority leader of the house of representatives.
Any person willfully violating any provision of an order issued by the governor under this section is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
[ 2019 c 472 § 2; 2008 c 181 § 1; 2003 c 53 § 222; 1969 ex.s. c 186 § 3; ]
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If when declaring or amending a statewide state of emergency pursuant to RCW 43.06.010, the governor determines that the emergency demands immediate action by hospitals to prevent critical health system failures and ensure hospitals' ability to work with emergency management in responding to the emergency, the governor shall, either simultaneously or within five days of that determination, specify within the emergency order or amended emergency order which of the following health care-related statutes and substantially equivalent regulations shall be waived or suspended based on the nature of the declared emergency:
RCW 70.38.105(4) (a), (e), and (h);
RCW 70.41.110, the following language only: "premises and";
RCW 70.41.230;
RCW 70.41.090 (3), (4), and (5);
RCW 18.64.043(1), the following language only: "of location, which shall entitle the owner to operate such pharmacy at the location specified, or such other temporary location as the secretary may approve,";
RCW 18.64.043(2)(a), the following language only: "of location";
RCW 18.64.043(3), the following language only: "and to keep the license of location or the renewal thereof properly exhibited in said pharmacy.";
RCW 43.70.280(2), the following language only: "Such extension, reduction, or other modification of a licensing, certification, or registration period shall be by rule or regulation of the department of health adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW. Such rules and regulations may provide a method for imposing and collecting such additional proportional fee as may be required for the extended or modified period."; and
RCW 18.360.010(11), the following language only: "physically present and is" and "in the facility. The health care practitioner does not need to be present during procedures to withdraw blood, but must be immediately available.".
Hospitals that rely on waiver or suspension under (a) of this subsection shall notify the department within 14 days of initiating such reliance.
Nothing in this section prevents the governor from waiving or suspending any statutes and substantially equivalent regulations outside the time frames established in this section. Additionally, the governor may waive or suspend any additional statutes, without limitation, as the governor deems necessary to address the emergency.
Waivers and suspensions in subsection (1) of this section do not apply except to projects undertaken to provide or respond to surge capacity, including temporary increases in bed capacity, during the governor's declaration of a statewide state of emergency. Such projects and increases in bed capacity must comply with these statutory and regulatory provisions after the termination of the state of emergency.
[ 2021 c 268 § 1; ]
After the proclamation of a state of emergency as provided in RCW 43.06.010, any person who maliciously destroys or damages any real or personal property or maliciously injures another is guilty of a class B felony and upon conviction thereof shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than two years nor more than ten years.
[ 2003 c 53 § 223; 1992 c 7 § 39; 1969 ex.s. c 186 § 4; ]
After the proclamation of a state of emergency pursuant to RCW 43.06.010, every person who:
Wilfully causes public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, or recklessly creates a risk thereof, by:
engaging in fighting or in violent, tumultuous, or threatening behavior; or
making an unreasonable noise or an offensively coarse utterance, gesture, or display, or addressing abusive language to any person present; or
dispersing any lawful procession or meeting of persons, not being a peace officer of this state and without lawful authority; or
creating a hazardous or physically offensive condition which serves no legitimate purpose; or
Engages with at least one other person in a course of conduct as defined in subsection (1) of this section which is likely to cause substantial harm or serious inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm, and refuses or knowingly fails to obey an order to disperse made by a peace officer shall be guilty of disorderly conduct and be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for up to three hundred sixty-four days or fined not more than one thousand dollars or by both fine and imprisonment.
[ 2011 c 96 § 27; 1969 ex.s. c 186 § 5; ]
Any person upon any public way or any public property, within the area described in the state of emergency, who is directed by a public official to leave the public way or public property and refuses to do so shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
[ 1969 ex.s. c 186 § 6; ]
After the proclamation of a state of emergency as provided in RCW 43.06.010 any person sixteen years of age or over who violates any provision of RCW 43.06.010, and 43.06.200 through 43.06.270 shall be prosecuted as an adult.
[ 1969 ex.s. c 186 § 7; ]
The governor may in his or her discretion order the state militia pursuant to chapter 38.08 RCW or the state patrol to assist local officials to restore order in the area described in the proclamation of a state of emergency.
[ 2009 c 549 § 5023; 1969 ex.s. c 186 § 9; ]
The Washington quality award council shall be organized as a private, nonprofit corporation, in accordance with chapter 24.03 RCW and this section.
The council shall oversee the governor's Washington state quality award program. The purpose of the program is to improve the overall competitiveness of the state's economy by stimulating Washington state industries, business, and organizations to bring about measurable success through setting standards of organizational excellence, encouraging organizational self-assessment, identifying successful organizations as role models, and providing a valuable mechanism for promoting and strengthening a commitment to continuous quality improvement in all sectors of the state's economy. The governor shall annually present the award to organizations that improve the quality of their products and services and are noteworthy examples of high-performing work organizations, as determined by the council in consultation with the governor or appointed representative.
The governor shall appoint a representative to serve on the board of directors of the council.
The council shall establish a board of examiners, a recognition committee, and such other committees or subgroups as it deems appropriate to carry out its responsibilities.
The council may conduct such public information, research, education, and assistance programs as it deems appropriate to further quality improvement in organizations operating in the state of Washington.
The council shall:
Approve and announce award recipients;
Approve guidelines to examine applicant organizations;
Approve appointment of board of examiners; and
Arrange appropriate annual awards and recognition for recipients.
[ 2004 c 245 § 1; 2000 c 216 § 1; 1998 c 245 § 86; 1997 c 329 § 1; 1994 c 306 § 1; ]
The Washington marine resources advisory council is created within the office of the governor.
The Washington marine resources advisory council is composed of:
The governor, or the governor's designee, who shall serve as the chair of the council;
The commissioner of public lands, or the commissioner's designee;
Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, one from each of the two largest caucuses in the senate;
Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one from each of the two largest caucuses in the house of representatives;
One representative of federally recognized Indian tribes with reservations lying within or partially within counties bordering the outer coast, if selected by action of all of the governing bodies of all federally recognized Indian tribes in such an area;
One representative of federally recognized Indian tribes with reservations lying within or partially within counties bordering Puget Sound, if selected by action of all of the governing bodies of all federally recognized Indian tribes in such an area;
One representative of each of the following sectors, appointed by the governor:
Commercial fishing;
Recreational fishing;
Marine recreation and tourism, other than fishing;
Coastal shellfish growers;
Puget Sound shellfish growers;
Marine businesses; and
Conservation organizations;
The chair of the Washington state conservation commission, or the chair's designee;
One representative appointed by the largest statewide general agricultural association;
One representative appointed by the largest statewide business association;
The chair of the Washington coastal marine advisory council;
The chair of the leadership council of the Puget Sound partnership;
The director of the department of ecology;
The director of the department of fish and wildlife; and
The chair of the Northwest Straits commission.
The governor shall invite the participation of the following entities as nonvoting members:
The national oceanic and atmospheric administration; and
Academic institutions conducting scientific research on ocean acidification.
The governor shall make the appointments of the members under subsection (2)(g) of this section by September 1, 2013.
Any member appointed by the governor may be removed by the governor for cause.
A majority of the voting members of the Washington marine resources advisory council constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
The chair of the Washington marine resources advisory council shall schedule meetings and establish the agenda. The first meeting of the council must be scheduled by November 1, 2013. The council shall meet at least twice per calendar year. At each meeting the council shall afford an opportunity to the public to comment upon agenda items and other matters relating to the protection and conservation of the state's ocean resources.
The Washington marine resources advisory council shall have the following powers and duties:
To maintain a sustainable coordinated focus, including the involvement of and the collaboration among all levels of government and nongovernmental entities, the private sector, and citizens by increasing the state's ability to work to address impacts of ocean acidification;
To advise and work with the University of Washington and others to conduct ongoing technical analysis on the effects and sources of ocean acidification. The recommendations must identify a range of actions necessary to implement the recommendations and take into consideration the differences between in-state impacts and sources and out-of-state impacts and sources;
To deliver recommendations to the governor and appropriate committees in the Washington state senate and house of representatives that must include, as necessary, any minority reports requested by a councilmember;
To seek public and private funding resources necessary, and the commitment of other resources, for ongoing technical analysis to support the council's recommendations; and
To assist in conducting public education activities regarding the impacts of and contributions to ocean acidification and regarding implementation strategies to support the actions adopted by the legislature.
This section expires June 30, 2022.
[ 2016 sp.s. c 27 § 1; 2013 c 318 § 4; ]
Whenever any convicted offender, who is a citizen or national of a foreign country and is under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections, requests transfer to the foreign country of which he or she is a citizen or national, under a treaty on the transfer of offenders entered into between the United States and a foreign country, the governor or the governor's designee:
May grant the approval of the state to such transfer as provided in the treaty; and
Shall have, notwithstanding any provision of chapter 9.95 or 72.68 RCW, the plenary authority to fix the duration of the offender's sentence, if not otherwise fixed, whenever a fixed sentence is a condition precedent to transfer.
[ 1983 c 255 § 9; ]
Beginning in January 1984, and in January of every fourth year thereafter, the department of revenue must submit to the legislature prior to the regular session a listing of the amount of reduction for the current and next biennium in the revenues of the state or the revenues of local government collected by the state as a result of tax exemptions. The listing must include an estimate of the revenue lost from the tax exemption, the purpose of the tax exemption, the persons, organizations, or parts of the population which benefit from the tax exemption, and whether or not the tax exemption conflicts with another state program. The listing must include but not be limited to the following revenue sources:
Real and personal property tax exemptions under Title 84 RCW;
Business and occupation tax exemptions, deductions, and credits under chapter 82.04 RCW;
Retail sales and use tax exemptions under chapters 82.08, 82.12, and 82.14 RCW;
Public utility tax exemptions and deductions under chapter 82.16 RCW;
Food fish and shellfish tax exemptions under chapter 82.27 RCW;
Leasehold excise tax exemptions under chapter 82.29A RCW;
Motor vehicle and special fuel tax exemptions and refunds under chapter 82.38 RCW;
Aircraft fuel tax exemptions under chapter 82.42 RCW;
Motor vehicle excise tax exclusions under chapter 82.44 RCW; and
Insurance premiums tax exemptions under chapter 48.14 RCW.
The department of revenue must prepare the listing required by this section with the assistance of any other agencies or departments as may be required.
The department of revenue must present the listing to the ways and means committees of each house in public hearings.
Beginning in January 1984, and every four years thereafter the governor is requested to review the report from the department of revenue and may submit recommendations to the legislature with respect to the repeal or modification of any tax exemption. The ways and means committees of each house and the appropriate standing committee of each house must hold public hearings and take appropriate action on the recommendations submitted by the governor.
As used in this section, "tax exemption" means an exemption, exclusion, or deduction from the base of a tax; a credit against a tax; a deferral of a tax; or a preferential tax rate.
For purposes of the listing due in January 2012, the department of revenue does not have to prepare or update the listing with respect to any tax exemption that would not be likely to increase state revenue if the exemption was repealed or otherwise eliminated.
[ 2013 c 225 § 605; 2011 1st sp.s. c 20 § 201; 1999 c 372 § 5; 1987 c 472 § 16; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 60; ]
There is established within the office of the governor the Washington state internship program to assist students and state employees in gaining valuable experience and knowledge in various areas of state government. In administering the program, the governor shall:
Consult with the secretary of state, the director of enterprise services, the commissioner of the employment security department, and representatives of labor;
Encourage and assist agencies in developing intern positions;
Develop and coordinate a selection process for placing individuals in intern positions. This selection process shall give due regard to the responsibilities of the state to provide equal employment opportunities;
Develop and coordinate a training component of the internship program which balances the need for training and exposure to new ideas with the intern's and agency's need for on-the-job work experience;
Work with institutions of higher education in developing the program, soliciting qualified applicants, and selecting participants; and
Develop guidelines for compensation of the participants.
[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 § 455; 1993 c 281 § 47; 1985 c 442 § 1; ]
The governor may appoint a coordinator to assist in administering the program created by RCW 43.06.410.
The governor shall adopt such rules as are necessary to administer RCW 43.06.410.
[ 1985 c 442 § 2; ]
The state internship program shall consist of two individual internship programs as follows:
An undergraduate internship program consisting of three-month to six-month positions for students working toward an undergraduate degree. In addition, a public sector employee, whether working toward a degree or not, shall be eligible to participate in the program upon the written recommendation of the head of the employee's agency.
An executive fellows program consisting of one-year to two-year placements for students who have successfully completed at least one year of graduate level work and have demonstrated a substantial interest in public sector management. Positions in this program shall be as assistants or analysts at the midmanagement level or higher. In addition, a public sector employee, whether working toward an advanced degree or not, or who has not successfully completed one year of graduate-level work as required by this subsection, shall be eligible to participate in the program upon the written recommendation of the head of the employee's agency. Participants in the executive fellows program who were not public employees prior to accepting a position in the program shall receive insurance and retirement credit commensurate with other employees of the employing agency.
[ 1985 c 442 § 3; ]
The director of financial management or the director's designee shall adopt rules to provide that:
Successful completion of an internship under RCW 43.06.420 shall be considered as employment experience at the level at which the intern was placed;
Persons leaving classified or exempt positions in state government in order to take an internship under RCW 43.06.420: (a) Have the right of reversion to the previous position at any time during the internship or upon completion of the internship; and (b) shall continue to receive all fringe benefits as if they had never left their classified or exempt positions;
Participants in the undergraduate internship program who were not public employees prior to accepting a position in the program receive sick leave allowances commensurate with other state employees;
Participants in the executive fellows program who were not public employees prior to accepting a position in the program receive sick and vacation leave allowances commensurate with other state employees.
[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 § 456; 2002 c 354 § 229; 1993 c 281 § 48; 1985 c 442 § 4; ]
An agency shall not be deemed to exceed any limitation on full time equivalent staff positions on the basis of intern positions established under RCW 43.06.420.
[ 1985 c 442 § 6; ]
The legislature intends to further the government-to-government relationship between the state of Washington and Indians in the state of Washington by authorizing the governor to enter into contracts concerning the sale of cigarettes and vapor products. The legislature finds that these cigarette tax and vapor product tax contracts will provide a means to promote economic development, provide needed revenues for tribal governments and Indian persons, and enhance enforcement of the state's cigarette tax and vapor product tax, ultimately saving the state money and reducing conflict. In addition, it is the intent of the legislature that the negotiations and the ensuing contracts have no impact on the state's share of the proceeds under the master settlement agreement entered into on November 23, 1998, by the state. Chapter 235, Laws of 2001 and chapter 445, Laws of 2019 do not constitute a grant of taxing authority to any Indian tribe nor do they provide precedent for the taxation of non-Indians on fee land.
[ 2019 c 445 § 301; 2001 c 235 § 1; ]
The governor may enter into cigarette tax contracts concerning the sale of cigarettes. All cigarette tax contracts shall meet the requirements for cigarette tax contracts under this section. Except for cigarette tax contracts under RCW 43.06.460, the rates, revenue sharing, and exemption terms of a cigarette tax contract are not effective unless authorized in a bill enacted by the legislature.
Cigarette tax contracts shall be in regard to retail sales in which Indian retailers make delivery and physical transfer of possession of the cigarettes from the seller to the buyer within Indian country, and are not in regard to transactions by non-Indian retailers. In addition, contracts shall provide that retailers shall not sell or give, or permit to be sold or given, cigarettes to any person under the age of eighteen years.
A cigarette tax contract with a tribe shall provide for a tribal cigarette tax in lieu of all state cigarette taxes and state and local sales and use taxes on sales of cigarettes in Indian country by Indian retailers. The tribe may allow an exemption for sales to tribal members.
Cigarette tax contracts shall provide that all cigarettes possessed or sold by a retailer shall bear a cigarette stamp obtained by wholesalers from a bank or other suitable stamp vendor and applied to the cigarettes. The procedures to be used by the tribe in obtaining tax stamps must include a means to assure that the tribal tax will be paid by the wholesaler obtaining such cigarettes. Tribal stamps must have serial numbers or some other discrete identification so that each stamp can be traced to its source.
Cigarette tax contracts shall provide that retailers shall purchase cigarettes only from:
Wholesalers or manufacturers licensed to do business in the state of Washington;
Out-of-state wholesalers or manufacturers who, although not licensed to do business in the state of Washington, agree to comply with the terms of the cigarette tax contract, are certified to the state as having so agreed, and who do in fact so comply. However, the state may in its sole discretion exercise its administrative and enforcement powers over such wholesalers or manufacturers to the extent permitted by law;
A tribal wholesaler that purchases only from a wholesaler or manufacturer described in (a), (b), or (d) of this subsection; and
A tribal manufacturer.
Cigarette tax contracts shall be for renewable periods of no more than eight years. A renewal may not include a renewal of the phase-in period.
Cigarette tax contracts shall include provisions for compliance, such as transport and notice requirements, inspection procedures, stamping requirements, recordkeeping, and audit requirements.
Tax revenue retained by a tribe must be used for essential government services. Use of tax revenue for subsidization of cigarette and food retailers is prohibited.
The cigarette tax contract may include provisions to resolve disputes using a nonjudicial process, such as mediation.
The governor may delegate the power to negotiate cigarette tax contracts to the department of revenue. The department of revenue shall consult with the *liquor control board during the negotiations.
Information received by the state or open to state review under the terms of a contract is subject to the provisions of RCW 82.32.330.
It is the intent of the legislature that the *liquor control board and the department of revenue continue the division of duties and shared authority under chapter 82.24 RCW and therefore the *liquor control board is responsible for enforcement activities that come under the terms of chapter 82.24 RCW.
Each cigarette tax contract shall include a procedure for notifying the other party that a violation has occurred, a procedure for establishing whether a violation has in fact occurred, an opportunity to correct such violation, and a provision providing for termination of the contract should the violation fail to be resolved through this process, such termination subject to mediation should the terms of the contract so allow. A contract shall provide for termination of the contract if resolution of a dispute does not occur within twenty-four months from the time notification of a violation has occurred. Intervening violations do not extend this time period. In addition, the contract shall include provisions delineating the respective roles and responsibilities of the tribe, the department of revenue, and the *liquor control board.
For purposes of this section and RCW 43.06.460, 82.08.0316, 82.12.0316, and 82.24.295:
"Essential government services" means services such as tribal administration, public facilities, fire, police, public health, education, job services, sewer, water, environmental and land use, transportation, utility services, and economic development;
"Indian retailer" or "retailer" means (i) a retailer wholly owned and operated by an Indian tribe, (ii) a business wholly owned and operated by a tribal member and licensed by the tribe, or (iii) a business owned and operated by the Indian person or persons in whose name the land is held in trust; and
"Indian tribe" or "tribe" means a federally recognized Indian tribe located within the geographical boundaries of the state of Washington.
[ 2001 c 235 § 2; ]
The governor is authorized to enter into cigarette tax contracts with the Squaxin Island Tribe, the Nisqually Tribe, Tulalip Tribes, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, the Quinault Nation, the Jamestown S'Klallam Indian Tribe, the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, the Stillaguamish Tribe, the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe, the Skokomish Indian Tribe, the Yakama Nation, the Suquamish Tribe, the Nooksack Indian Tribe, the Lummi Nation, the Chehalis Confederated Tribes, the Upper Skagit Tribe, the Snoqualmie Tribe, the Swinomish Tribe, the Samish Indian Nation, the Quileute Tribe, the Kalispel Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, the Makah Tribe, the Hoh Tribe, the Spokane Tribe, and the Shoalwater Bay Tribe. Each contract adopted under this section shall provide that the tribal cigarette tax rate be one hundred percent of the state cigarette and state and local sales and use taxes within three years of enacting the tribal tax and shall be set no lower than eighty percent of the state cigarette and state and local sales and use taxes during the three-year phase-in period. The three-year phase-in period shall be shortened by three months each quarter the number of cartons of nontribal manufactured cigarettes is at least ten percent or more than the quarterly average number of cartons of nontribal manufactured cigarettes from the six-month period preceding the imposition of the tribal tax under the contract. Sales at a retailer operation not in existence as of the date a tribal tax under this section is imposed are subject to the full rate of the tribal tax under the contract. The tribal cigarette tax is in lieu of the state cigarette and state and local sales and use taxes, as provided in RCW 43.06.455(3).
A cigarette tax contract under this section is subject to RCW 43.06.455.
[ 2008 c 241 § 1; 2007 c 320 § 1; 2005 c 208 § 1; 2003 c 236 § 1; 2002 c 87 § 1; 2001 2nd sp.s. c 21 § 1; 2001 c 235 § 3; ]
The governor may enter into a cigarette tax agreement with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians concerning the sale of cigarettes, subject to the limitations in this section. The legislature intends to address the uniqueness of the Puyallup Indian reservation and its selling environment through pricing and compliance strategies, rather than through the imposition of equivalent taxes. It is the legislature's intent (a) that an increase in prices through a flat tax will reduce much of the competitive advantage that has historically existed due to the discrepancy in the difference between state and tribal taxes, and (b) that the tribal retailers can remain in business under the changed circumstances. The governor may delegate the authority to negotiate a cigarette tax agreement with the Puyallup Tribe to the department of revenue. The department of revenue shall consult with the *liquor control board during the negotiations.
Any agreement must require the tribe to impose a tax of eleven dollars and seventy-five cents on each carton of cigarettes, with ten packs a carton and twenty cigarettes per pack being the industry standard. This tax shall be prorated for cartons and packs that are nonstandard. This tribal tax is in lieu of the combined state and local sales and use taxes, and state cigarette taxes, and as such these state taxes are not imposed during the term of the agreement on any transaction governed by the agreement. The tribal tax shall increase or decrease by the same dollar amount as any increase or decrease in the state cigarette tax.
The agreement must include a provision requiring the tribe to transmit thirty percent of the tribal tax revenue on all cigarette sales to the state. The funds shall be transmitted to the state treasurer on a quarterly basis for deposit by the state treasurer into the general fund. The remaining tribal tax revenue must be used for essential government services, as that term is defined in RCW 43.06.455.
The agreement is limited to retail sales in which Indian retailers make delivery and physical transfer of possession of the cigarettes from the seller to the buyer within Indian country, and are not in regard to transactions by non-Indian retailers. In addition, agreements shall provide that retailers shall not sell or give, or permit to be sold or given, cigarettes to any person under the age of eighteen years.
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The agreement must include a provision to price and sell the cigarettes so that the retail selling price is not less than the price paid by the retailer for the cigarettes.
The tribal tax is in addition to the retail selling price.
The agreement must include a provision to assure the price paid to the retailer includes the tribal tax, as evidenced by the tribe's cigarette stamp.
If the tribe is acting as a wholesaler to tribal retailers, the retail selling price must not be less than the price the tribe paid for such cigarettes plus the tribal tax, as evidenced by the tribe's cigarette stamp.
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The agreement must include provisions regarding enforcement and compliance by the tribe in regard to enrolled tribal members who sell cigarettes and shall describe the individual and joint responsibilities of the tribe, the department of revenue, and the *liquor control board.
The agreement must include provisions for tax administration and compliance, such as transport and notice requirements, inspection procedures, stamping requirements, recordkeeping, and audit requirements.
The agreement must include provisions for sharing of information among the tribe, the department of revenue, and the *liquor control board.
The agreement must provide that all cigarettes possessed or sold by a tribal retailer shall bear a tribal cigarette stamp obtained by wholesalers from a bank or other suitable stamp vendor and applied to the cigarettes. Tribal stamps must have serial numbers or some other discrete identification so that each stamp can be traced to its source.
The agreement must provide that retailers shall purchase cigarettes only from wholesalers or manufacturers licensed to do business in the state of Washington.
The agreement must be for a renewable period of no more than eight years.
The agreement must include provisions to resolve disputes using a nonjudicial process, such as mediation, and shall include a dispute resolution protocol. The protocol shall include a procedure for notifying the other party that a violation has occurred, a procedure for establishing whether a violation has in fact occurred, an opportunity to correct such violation, and a provision providing for termination of the agreement should the violation fail to be resolved through this process, such termination subject to mediation should the terms of the agreement so allow. An agreement must provide for termination of the agreement if resolution of a dispute does not occur within twenty-four months from the time notification of a violation has occurred. Intervening violations do not extend this time period.
The agreement may not include any provisions that impact the state's share of the master settlement agreement, and as such this agreement does not authorize negotiation regarding a redistribution of the state's proceeds under the master settlement agreement.
Information received by the state or open to state review under the terms of an agreement is subject to RCW 82.32.330.
It is the intent of the legislature that the *liquor control board and the department of revenue continue the division of duties and shared authority under chapter 82.24 RCW.
For purposes of this section:
"Indian country" has the same meaning as in chapter 82.24 RCW.
"Indian retailer" or "retailer" means (i) a retailer wholly owned and operated by an Indian tribe or (ii) a business wholly owned and operated by an enrolled tribal member and licensed by the tribe.
"Indian tribe" or "tribe" means the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, which is a federally recognized Indian tribe located within the geographical boundaries of the state of Washington.
[ 2005 c 11 § 2; ]
It is the intent of the legislature that the cigarette tax agreement with the Yakama Nation reflects the uniqueness of the Yakama Nation's Treaty through specific terms that govern pricing of cigarettes, tribal cigarette tax revenue, information sharing, and administration of the agreement.
For purposes of this section:
"Cigarette" has the same meaning as in chapter 82.24 RCW; and
"Tribal retailer" means a cigarette retailer as that term is defined in RCW 82.24.010 that is licensed by and located within the jurisdiction of the Yakama Nation and is wholly owned by the Yakama Nation or any of its enrolled members.
The governor may enter into a cigarette tax agreement with the Yakama Nation, a federally recognized Indian tribe located within the geographical boundaries of the state of Washington, concerning the sale of cigarettes, subject to the provisions of this section. The governor may delegate the authority to negotiate the agreement to the department of revenue.
The agreement must be for a renewable period of no more than eight years.
All cigarettes possessed or sold by tribal retailers must be subject to the agreement, except cigarettes manufactured within the jurisdiction of the Yakama Nation by the Yakama Nation or its enrolled members.
The agreement must allow the Yakama Nation to exempt its enrolled members from the tribal cigarette tax imposed under subsection (7) of this section.
Sales of cigarettes exempt under this subsection must be subject to the requirements of subsection (9) of this section.
The exemption must be provided only at the point of sale and reimbursement provided to the tribal retailer by the Yakama Nation.
The agreement must require the Yakama Nation to impose and maintain in effect on the sale of cigarettes by tribal retailers a tax as provided in this subsection.
The rate of tax will be expressed in dollars and cents and must be the percentage of tax imposed by the state under chapter 82.24 RCW for the period of the agreement as stated here:
Eighty percent during the first six years;
Eighty-four percent during the seventh year; and
Eighty-seven and six-tenths percent during the eighth year.
The tax must be imposed on each carton, or portion of a carton, of cigarettes, with ten packs per carton and twenty cigarettes per pack being the industry standard, and prorated for cartons and packs that are not standard.
The tax must be in lieu of the combined state and local sales and use taxes, and state cigarette taxes, and, as provided in RCW 82.24.302, 82.08.0316, and 82.12.0316, the taxes imposed by chapters 82.08, 82.12, and 82.24 RCW do not apply during the term of the agreement on any transaction governed by the agreement.
Throughout the term of the agreement and any renewal of the agreement, the tax must increase or decrease in correspondence with the state cigarette tax by applying the percentages in (a) of this subsection.
The revenue generated by the tax imposed under subsection (7) of this section must be used by the Yakama Nation for essential government services, as that term is defined in RCW 43.06.455.
All cigarettes possessed or sold by a tribal retailer must bear a tribal cigarette tax stamp as provided in this subsection.
The Yakama Nation may act as its own stamp vendor, subject to meeting reasonable requirements for internal controls.
The stamps must have serial numbers or other discrete identification that allow stamps to be traced to their source.
The price paid by the tribal retailer to the wholesaler must not be less than the total of the price paid by the Yakama Nation or other wholesaler and the tax imposed under subsection (7) of this section.
The retail selling price of cigarettes sold by tribal retailers must not be less than the price paid by them under subsection (10) of this section.
Tribal retailers must not sell or give, or permit to be sold or given, cigarettes to any person under the age of eighteen years.
The authority and the individual and joint responsibility of the Yakama Nation, the department of revenue, and the *liquor control board for administration and enforcement must be specified in the agreement including, but not limited to, requirements regarding transport of cigarettes, keeping of records, reporting, notice, inspection, audit, and mutual exchange of information.
Requirements must provide for sharing of information regarding transport of cigarettes in the state of Washington by the Yakama Nation or its enrolled members, reporting of information on sales to customers located outside the jurisdiction of the Yakama Nation, and authority for unannounced inspection by the state of tribal retailers to verify compliance with stamping and pricing provisions.
Information received by the state or open to state review under the terms of the agreement is subject to RCW 82.32.330.
The agreement must provide for resolution of disputes using a nonjudicial process, such as mediation, and establish a dispute resolution protocol that includes the following elements:
A procedure for notifying the other party that a violation has occurred;
A procedure for establishing whether a violation has in fact occurred;
An opportunity to correct the violation;
A procedure for terminating the agreement in the event of a failure to correct the violation, such termination subject to mediation should the terms of the agreement so allow; and
Termination of the agreement for cause.
The agreement may not include any provisions that impact the state's share of the master settlement agreement or concern redistribution of the state's proceeds under the master settlement agreement.
The department of revenue may share with the Yakama Nation tax information under RCW 82.32.330 that is necessary for the Yakama Nation's compliance with the agreement.
[ 2008 c 228 § 1; ]
In recognition of the sovereign authority of tribal governments, the governor may seek government-to-government consultations with federally recognized Indian tribes regarding raising the minimum legal age of sale in compacts entered into pursuant to RCW 43.06.455, 43.06.465, 43.06.466, and 43.06.505 through 43.06.515. The office of the governor shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature regarding the status of such consultations no later than December 1, 2020.
[ 2019 c 445 § 307; 2019 c 15 § 11; ]
The governor may enter into timber harvest excise tax agreements concerning the harvest of timber. All timber harvest excise tax agreements must meet the requirements for timber harvest excise tax agreements under this section. The terms of a timber harvest excise tax agreement are not effective unless the agreement is authorized in RCW 43.06.480.
Timber harvest excise tax agreements shall be in regard to timber harvests on fee land within the exterior boundaries of the reservation of the Indian tribe and are not in regard to timber harvests on trust land or land owned by the tribe within the exterior boundaries of the reservation.
The agreement must provide that the tribal tax shall be credited against the state and county taxes imposed under RCW 84.33.041 and 84.33.051.
Tribal ordinances for timber harvest excise taxation, or other authorizing tribal laws, which implement the timber harvest excise tax agreement with the state, must incorporate or contain provisions identical to chapter 84.33 RCW that relate to the tax rates and measures, such as stumpage values.
Timber harvest excise tax agreements must be for renewable periods of no more than eight years.
Timber harvest excise tax agreements must include provisions for compliance, such as inspection procedures, recordkeeping, and audit requirements.
Tax revenue retained by the tribe must be used for essential government services. Use of tax revenue for subsidization of timber harvesters is prohibited.
The timber harvest excise tax agreement may include provisions to resolve disputes using a nonjudicial process, such as mediation.
The governor may delegate the power to negotiate the timber harvest excise tax agreements to the department of revenue.
Information received by the state or open to state review under the terms of a timber harvest excise tax agreement is subject to the provisions of RCW 82.32.330. The department of revenue may enter into an information sharing agreement with the tribe to facilitate sharing information to improve tax collection.
The timber harvest excise tax agreement must include dispute resolution procedures, contract termination procedures, and provisions delineating the respective roles and responsibilities of the tribe and the department of revenue.
The timber harvest excise tax agreement must include provisions to require taxpayers to submit information that may be required by the department of revenue or tribe.
For the purposes of this section:
"Essential government services" means services such as forestland management; protection, enhancement, regulation, and stewardship of forested land; land consolidation; tribal administration; public facilities; fire; police; public health; education; job services; sewer; water; environmental and land use; transportation; utility services; and public facilities serving economic development purposes as those terms are defined in RCW 82.14.370(3)(c);
"Forestland" has the same meaning as in RCW 84.33.035;
"Harvester" has the same meaning as in RCW 84.33.035;
"Indian tribe" or "tribe" means a federally recognized Indian tribe located within the geographical boundaries of the state of Washington; and
"Timber" has the same meaning as in RCW 84.33.035.
[ 2007 c 69 § 2; ]
The governor is authorized to enter into a timber harvest excise tax agreement with the Quinault Nation. Agreements adopted under this section must provide that the tribal timber harvest excise tax rate be one hundred percent of the state timber harvest excise tax.
A timber harvest excise tax agreement under this section is subject to RCW 43.06.475.
[ 2007 c 69 § 3; ]
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the governor must maintain a senior policy advisor to the governor to serve as a state lead on economic development issues relating to the outdoor recreation sector of the state's economy. The advisor must focus on promoting, increasing participation in, and increasing opportunities for outdoor recreation in Washington, with a particular focus on achieving economic development and job growth through outdoor recreation.
The success of the advisor must be based on measurable results relating to economic development strategies that more deliberately grow employment and outdoor recreation businesses, including:
Strategies for increasing the number of new jobs directly or indirectly related to outdoor recreation, with a short-term goal of increasing employment in the sector by ten percent above the one hundred ninety-nine thousand jobs estimated to be connected to outdoor recreation as of 2015; and
Strategies for increasing the twenty-one billion dollars of consumer spending in Washington, and the four and one-half billion dollars of spending from out-of-state visitors, estimated to be connected to outdoor recreation as of 2015.
[ 2015 c 245 § 2; ]
The governor may enter into agreements with federally recognized Indian tribes concerning marijuana. Marijuana agreements may address any marijuana-related issue that involves both state and tribal interests or otherwise has an impact on tribal-state relations. Such agreements may include, but are not limited to, the following provisions and subject matter:
Criminal and civil law enforcement;
Regulatory issues related to the commercial production, processing, sale, and possession of marijuana, and processed marijuana products, for both recreational and medical purposes;
Medical and pharmaceutical research involving marijuana;
Taxation in accordance with subsection (2) of this section;
Any tribal immunities or preemption of state law regarding the production, processing, or marketing of marijuana; and
Dispute resolution, including the use of mediation or other nonjudicial process.
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Each marijuana agreement adopted under this section must provide for a tribal marijuana tax that is at least one hundred percent of the state marijuana excise tax imposed under RCW 69.50.535 and state and local sales and use taxes on sales of marijuana. Marijuana agreements apply to sales in which tribes, tribal enterprises, or tribal member-owned businesses (i) deliver or cause delivery to be made to or receive delivery from a marijuana producer, processor, or retailer licensed under chapter 69.50 RCW or (ii) physically transfer possession of the marijuana from the seller to the buyer within Indian country.
The tribe may allow an exemption from tax for sales to the tribe, tribal enterprises, tribal member-owned businesses, or tribal members[,] on marijuana grown, produced, or processed within its Indian country, or for activities to the extent they are exempt under state or federal law from the state marijuana excise tax imposed under RCW 69.50.535 or state and local sales or use taxes on sales of marijuana. Medical marijuana products used in the course of medical treatments by a clinic, hospital, or similar facility owned and operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe within its Indian country may be exempted from tax under the terms of an agreement entered into under this section.
Any marijuana agreement relating to the production, processing, and sale of marijuana in Indian country, whether for recreational or medical purposes, must address the following issues:
Preservation of public health and safety;
Ensuring the security of production, processing, retail, and research facilities; and
Cross-border commerce in marijuana.
The governor may delegate the power to negotiate marijuana agreements to the *state liquor control board. In conducting such negotiations, the *state liquor control board must, when necessary, consult with the governor and/or the department of revenue.
The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Indian country" has the same meaning as in RCW 82.24.010.
"Indian tribe" or "tribe" means a federally recognized Indian tribe located within the geographical boundaries of the state of Washington.
"Marijuana" means "marijuana," "marijuana concentrates," "marijuana-infused products," and "useable marijuana," as those terms are defined in RCW 69.50.101.
[ 2015 c 207 § 2; ]
The governor may enter into vapor product tax contracts concerning the sale of vapor products. All vapor product tax contracts must meet the requirements for vapor product tax contracts under this section.
Vapor product tax contracts must be in regard to retail sales in which Indian retailers make delivery and physical transfer of possession of the vapor products from the seller to the buyer within Indian country, and are not in regard to transactions by non-Indian retailers. In addition, contracts may address the legal age of sale for vapor products pursuant to section 11, chapter 15, Laws of 2019.
A vapor product tax contract with a tribe must provide for a tribal vapor product tax in lieu of all state vapor product taxes and state and local sales and use taxes on sales of vapor products in Indian country by Indian retailers. The tribe may allow an exemption for sales to tribal members.
Vapor product tax contracts must provide that retailers must purchase vapor products only from:
Wholesalers or manufacturers licensed to do business in the state of Washington;
Out-of-state wholesalers or manufacturers who, although not licensed to do business in the state of Washington, agree to comply with the terms of the vapor product tax contract, are certified to the state as having so agreed, and do in fact so comply. However, the state may in its sole discretion exercise its administrative and enforcement powers over such wholesalers or manufacturers to the extent permitted by law;
A tribal wholesaler that purchases only from a wholesaler or manufacturer described in (a), (b), or (d) of this subsection; and
A tribal manufacturer.
Vapor product tax contracts must be for renewable periods of no more than eight years.
Vapor product tax contracts must include provisions for compliance, such as transport and notice requirements, inspection procedures, recordkeeping, and audit requirements.
Tax revenue retained by a tribe must be used for essential government services. Use of tax revenue for subsidization of vapor products and food retailers is prohibited.
The vapor product tax contract may include provisions to resolve disputes using a nonjudicial process, such as mediation.
The governor may delegate the power to negotiate vapor product tax contracts to the department of revenue. The department of revenue must consult with the liquor and cannabis board during the negotiations.
Information received by the state or open to state review under the terms of a contract is subject to the provisions of RCW 82.32.330.
It is the intent of the legislature that the liquor and cannabis board and the department of revenue continue the division of duties and shared authority under chapter 82.25 RCW and therefore the liquor and cannabis board is responsible for enforcement activities that come under the terms of chapter 82.25 RCW.
Each vapor product tax contract must include a procedure for notifying the other party that a violation has occurred, a procedure for establishing whether a violation has in fact occurred, an opportunity to correct such violation, and a provision providing for termination of the contract should the violation fail to be resolved through this process, such termination subject to mediation should the terms of the contract so allow. A contract must provide for termination of the contract if resolution of a dispute does not occur within twenty-four months from the time notification of a violation has occurred. Intervening violations do not extend this time period. In addition, the contract must include provisions delineating the respective roles and responsibilities of the tribe, the department of revenue, and the liquor and cannabis board.
The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Essential government services" means services such as tribal administration, public facilities, fire, police, public health, education, job services, sewer, water, environmental and land use, transportation, utility services, and economic development.
"Indian country" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.24.010.
"Indian retailer" or "retailer" means:
A retailer wholly owned and operated by an Indian tribe;
A business wholly owned and operated by a tribal member and licensed by the tribe; or
A business owned and operated by the Indian person or persons in whose name the land is held in trust.
"Indian tribe" or "tribe" means a federally recognized Indian tribe located within the geographical boundaries of the state of Washington.
"Vapor products" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.25.005.
[ 2019 c 445 § 302; ]
The governor is authorized to enter into vapor product tax contracts with federally recognized Indian tribes located within the geographical boundaries of the state of Washington. Each contract adopted under this section must provide that the tribal vapor product tax rate be one hundred percent of the state vapor product tax and state and local sales and use taxes. The tribal vapor product tax is in lieu of the state vapor product tax and state and local sales and use taxes, as provided in RCW 43.06.505(3).
A vapor product tax contract under this section is subject to RCW 43.06.505 and is separate from a cigarette tax contract subject to RCW 43.06.455 or 43.06.466.
[ 2019 c 445 § 303; ]
The governor may enter into a vapor product tax agreement with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians concerning the sale of vapor products, subject to the limitations in this section. The legislature intends to address the uniqueness of the Puyallup Indian reservation and its selling environment through pricing and compliance strategies, rather than through the imposition of equivalent taxes. The governor may delegate the authority to negotiate a vapor product tax agreement with the Puyallup Tribe to the department of revenue. The department of revenue must consult with the liquor and cannabis board during the negotiations. An agreement under this section is separate from an agreement under RCW 43.06.465.
Any agreement must require the tribe to impose a tribal vapor product tax with a tax rate that is ninety percent of the state vapor product tax. This tribal tax is in lieu of the combined state and local sales and use taxes and the state vapor product tax, and as such these state taxes are not imposed during the term of the agreement on any transaction governed by the agreement. The tribal vapor product tax must increase or decrease at the time of any increase or decrease in the state vapor product tax so as to remain at a level that is ninety percent of the rate of the state vapor product tax.
The agreement must include a provision requiring the tribe to transmit thirty percent of the tribal tax revenue on all vapor products sales to the state. The funds must be transmitted to the state treasurer on a quarterly basis for deposit by the state treasurer into the general fund. The remaining tribal tax revenue must be used for essential government services, as that term is defined in RCW 43.06.505.
The agreement is limited to retail sales in which Indian retailers make delivery and physical transfer of possession of the vapor products from the seller to the buyer within Indian country, and are not in regard to transactions by non-Indian retailers. In addition, agreements may address the legal age of sale for vapor products pursuant to section 11, chapter 15, Laws of 2019.
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The agreement must include a provision to price and sell the vapor products so that the retail selling price is not less than the price paid by the retailer for the vapor products.
The tribal tax is in addition to the retail selling price.
The agreement must include a provision to assure the price paid to the retailer includes the tribal tax.
If the tribe is acting as a distributor to tribal retailers, the retail selling price must not be less than the price the tribe paid for such vapor products plus the tribal tax.
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The agreement must include provisions regarding enforcement and compliance by the tribe in regard to enrolled tribal members who sell vapor products and must describe the individual and joint responsibilities of the tribe, the department of revenue, and the liquor and cannabis board.
The agreement must include provisions for tax administration and compliance, such as transport and notice requirements, inspection procedures, recordkeeping, and audit requirements.
The agreement must include provisions for sharing of information among the tribe, the department of revenue, and the liquor and cannabis board.
The agreement must provide that retailers must purchase vapor products only from distributors or manufacturers licensed to do business in the state of Washington.
The agreement must be for a renewable period of no more than eight years.
The agreement must include provisions to resolve disputes using a nonjudicial process, such as mediation, and must include a dispute resolution protocol. The protocol must include a procedure for notifying the other party that a violation has occurred, a procedure for establishing whether a violation has in fact occurred, an opportunity to correct such violation, and a provision providing for termination of the agreement should the violation fail to be resolved through this process, such termination subject to mediation should the terms of the agreement so allow. An agreement must provide for termination of the agreement if resolution of a dispute does not occur within twenty-four months from the time notification of a violation has occurred. Intervening violations do not extend this time period.
Information received by the state or open to state review under the terms of an agreement is subject to RCW 82.32.330.
It is the intent of the legislature that the liquor and cannabis board and the department of revenue continue the division of duties and shared authority under chapter 82.25 RCW.
The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Indian country" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.24.010.
"Indian retailer" or "retailer" means:
A retailer wholly owned and operated by an Indian tribe; or
A business wholly owned and operated by an enrolled tribal member and licensed by the tribe.
"Indian tribe" or "tribe" means the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, which is a federally recognized Indian tribe located within the geographical boundaries of the state of Washington.
"Vapor products" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.25.005.
[ 2019 c 445 § 304; ]
The legislature intends to further the government-to-government relationship between the state of Washington and federally recognized Indian tribes in the state of Washington by authorizing the governor to enter into compacts concerning the state's retail sales, use, and business and occupation taxes on certain activities.
The legislature finds that these compacts will benefit all Washingtonians by providing a means to promote economic development and providing needed revenues for tribal governments and Indian persons.
The state and the tribes have a long-standing history of working together to develop cooperative agreements on taxation for cigarettes, fuel, timber, and marijuana. It is the legislature's intent, given the positive experiences from the nearly two decades of cooperation, to build on these successes and provide the governor with the authority to address state sales, use, and business and occupation taxes on certain activities.
In addition, it is the legislature's intent that these compacts will have no impact on the taxation of any transaction that is the subject of other compacts, contracts, or agreements authorized elsewhere in this chapter.
[ 2020 c 132 § 1; ]
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The governor may enter into compacts with tribes concerning revenue collected by the state from the state sales tax, state use tax, and certain state business and occupation taxes, to the extent these taxes are imposed on qualified transactions. All compacts must meet the requirements under this section.
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Except with regard to the terms of a compacting tribe's qualified capital investment, the governor may delegate the authority to negotiate compacts to the department.
In negotiating the terms of a compacting tribe's qualified capital investment, the governor must be satisfied that the compacting tribe's qualified capital investment is substantially proportionate to the compacting tribe's estimated tax revenue under the compact as compared to qualified capital investments contained in other compacts. For purposes of estimating a compacting tribe's tax revenue under a compact, tax revenue from new development is not included in the estimate.
Any compact authorized under this section must include provisions that allow the compacting tribe to receive, beginning on the compact's implementation date, the following amounts of tax collected on qualified transactions and received by the state:
One hundred percent of certain state business and occupation tax revenues;
The first five hundred thousand dollars of the total amount of state sales tax and state use tax collected during each calendar year from taxpayers, regardless of whether the taxpayers meet the requirements of a new development. If this five hundred thousand dollar cap is reached during a calendar year, any amounts collected from taxpayers that do not meet the requirements of a new development will be deemed to have been collected and applied to the cap first, but only in the calendar month in which the cap is reached;
The following amounts of state sales tax and state use tax collected during each calendar year from taxpayers meeting the requirements of a new development:
Twenty-five percent of any amount over the cap described in (b) of this subsection (2); or
Sixty percent of any amount over the cap described in (b) of this subsection (2), if the compacting tribe has completed a qualified capital investment; and
Beginning January 1st of the fourth calendar year following the signing of the compact, the following amounts of state sales tax and state use tax collected during each calendar year from taxpayers that do not meet the requirements of a new development:
Twenty-five percent of any amount over the cap described in (b) of this subsection (2); or
Fifty percent of any amount over the cap described in (b) of this subsection (2), if the compacting tribe has completed a qualified capital investment.
The parties to any compact must agree to include the following provisions in the compact:
A process for determining when any qualified capital investment is complete;
A process to verify compliance with the terms of the compact;
A delineation of the respective roles and responsibilities of the compacting tribe and the department;
A process to resolve disputes, including the use of a nonjudicial process;
An agreement that the compact resolves all current and future disputes between the compacting tribe and state and local taxing authorities, while the compact is in effect, to the extent such disputes relate to the levying, assessment, and collection of taxes related to the following:
Transactions between nonmembers, where such transactions are subject to any state sales tax, local sales tax, and any other taxes in effect or authorized as of June 11, 2020, except for any business and occupation tax under chapter 82.04 RCW other than certain state business and occupation taxes;
State and local use tax imposed on nonmembers and sourced to a location within the Indian country of the compacting tribe pursuant to RCW 82.32.730; and
State and local personal property taxes imposed on nonmembers;
An agreement that in the event of a change in state tax laws that affects the negotiated terms of a compact, or a change in the department's interpretation regarding the property taxation of nonmember-owned improvements on Indian trust land:
The parties must discuss in good faith any changes in the compact or this section that may be appropriate to preserve the intended benefits of the compact; and
A compacting tribe may terminate the compact if the good faith discussions do not result in a mutually satisfactory resolution;
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An agreement that the department must perform all functions related to the administration and collection of the taxes collected on qualified transactions. The department may not impose any charge on a compacting tribe for these services. However, the department may seek legislative appropriations to cover its administrative costs associated with compact negotiations and administration.
As part of the department's authority under (g)(i) of this subsection (3), the department will apply the provisions contained in Title 82 RCW insofar as they are applicable to the taxes at issue in any compact authorized under this section;
An agreement that the compacting tribe will provide information the department determines is necessary to fulfill the department's tax administration obligations under the compact, including information related to parcel ownership and business operations in the compact covered area; and
Terms specifying the duration of the compact, and any related terms.
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A compacting tribe may examine department records related to the payment of tax amounts to the compacting tribe. The compacting tribe must agree to keep information obtained from the department pursuant to a compact confidential to the same extent as the department is required to keep that information confidential pursuant to RCW 82.32.330.
Information received by the state or open to state review under the terms of a compact is deemed tax information under RCW 82.32.330.
The amounts in subsection (2) of this section must be paid to the compacting tribe on a monthly basis within sixty days after the department receives the tax amounts.
All refunds and credits the department issues to taxpayers of amounts previously paid to the compacting tribe under the terms of a compact will be charged to the compacting tribe.
Funds dedicated under RCW 82.08.020 and 82.12.0201 to the performance audits of government account under RCW 43.09.475 are not reduced by any payment to the compacting tribe.
The department may adopt rules as may be necessary to administer the provisions of this section.
This section does not affect the depositing of state sales tax, state use tax, and certain state business and occupation tax into the general fund as required by RCW 82.32.380.
The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
"Certain state business and occupation tax" means the tax imposed in chapter 82.04 RCW with respect to any qualified transaction as defined in (o)(i) of this subsection (10).
"Compact" means a compact authorized by this section.
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"Compact covered area" means: (A) Trust land, whether located within or outside of the boundaries of the compacting tribe's reservation; and (B) fee land within the boundaries of the compacting tribe's reservation and under tribal or tribal-member ownership.
For purposes of this subsection (10)(c), "tribal or tribal- member ownership" means fee land with a greater than fifty percent ownership interest being held by any combination of the compacting tribe or its tribal members.
"Compact covered area" does not include any land that, as of June 11, 2020, was fee land in which one or more nonmembers held a majority ownership, but only with respect to:
A business that was in operation on that land as of June 11, 2020, and continues to be in operation on that same land; or
A substantially similar successor business to a business described in (c)(iii)(A) of this subsection (10) is in operation on that same land.
"Compacting tribe" means, with respect to any specific compact, the tribe that is a party to the compact.
"Department" means the department of revenue.
"Implementation date" means the date, negotiated by the parties to the compact, on which the department is required to begin administering the terms of such compact.
"Indian country" has the same meaning as provided in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1151, as existing on June 11, 2020.
"Indian reservation" means all lands, notwithstanding the issuance of any patent, within the boundaries of areas set aside by the United States for the use and occupancy of Indian tribes by treaty, law, or executive order, or otherwise designated or described "reservation" by any federal act, and that are currently recognized as "Indian reservations" by the United States department of the interior. The term applies to all land within the boundaries of the Indian reservation, regardless of whether the land is owned by nonmembers, tribal members, or an Indian tribe.
"Indian tribe" or "tribe" means a federally recognized Indian tribe located at least partially within the geographical boundaries of the state of Washington and includes its enterprises, subsidiaries, and constituent parts.
"Local sales tax" means any sales tax that a local taxing authority is authorized to impose under chapter 82.14 RCW, RCW 81.104.170, or any other provision of state law.
"Local use tax" means any use tax that a local taxing authority is authorized to impose under chapter 82.14 RCW, RCW 81.104.170, or any other provision of state law.
"New development" means, with respect to any specific compact and the compact covered area associated with that compact, a person that:
Is subject to state sales tax or state use tax collection or payment obligations as a result of business activity within the compact covered area;
Conducts business operations in a structure within the compact covered area, and construction of that structure began on or after the date the compact is signed by the parties, but not including any such construction involving the renovation of or addition to a structure existing before the date the compact is signed by the parties; and
Has not previously been subject to state sales tax or state use tax collection or payment obligations as a result of that same business activity operated within a different structure located elsewhere within the compact covered area.
"Nonmember" means, with respect to any specific compact:
A natural person who is not a tribal member of the compacting tribe;
A tribe that is not the compacting tribe; or
Any entity where not more than fifty percent of the ownership interests are held by any combination of the compacting tribe or any tribal members of the compacting tribe.
"Qualified capital investment" means a contribution to the development and construction of a project agreed to by the governor and the compacting tribe.
"Qualified transaction" means:
A retail sale subject to state sales tax, involving a seller and purchaser who are both nonmembers, and that is sourced to a location within the compact covered area pursuant to RCW 82.32.730; or
Any use by a nonmember upon which the state use tax is imposed and sourced to a location within the compact covered area pursuant to RCW 82.32.730.
"State sales tax" means the tax imposed in RCW 82.08.020(1).
"State use tax" means the tax imposed in RCW 82.12.020 at the rate in RCW 82.08.020(1).
"Tribal member" means an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe, or in the context of a marital community, the spouse of a tribal member of the compacting tribe.
[ 2020 c 132 § 2; ]
Nothing in chapter 132, Laws of 2020 in any way limits, restricts, reduces, or affects local taxes authorized under chapter 82.14 RCW, RCW 81.104.170, Title 35, 36, or 84 RCW, or any other provision of state law authorizing a local tax.
[ 2020 c 132 § 3; ]
The governor shall appoint a 988 hotline and behavioral health crisis system coordinator to provide project coordination and oversight for the implementation and administration of the 988 crisis hotline, other requirements of chapter 302, Laws of 2021, and other projects supporting the behavioral health crisis system. The coordinator shall:
Oversee the collaboration between the department of health and the health care authority in their respective roles in supporting the crisis call center hubs, providing the necessary support services for 988 callers, and establishing adequate requirements and guidance for their contractors to fulfill the requirements of chapter 302, Laws of 2021;
Ensure coordination and facilitate communication between stakeholders such as crisis call center hub contractors, behavioral health administrative service organizations, county authorities, other crisis hotline centers, managed care organizations, and, in collaboration with the state enhanced 911 coordination office, with 911 emergency communications systems;
Review the development of adequate and consistent training for crisis call center personnel and, in coordination with the state enhanced 911 coordination office, for 911 operators with respect to their interactions with the crisis hotline center; and
Coordinate implementation of other behavioral health initiatives among state agencies and educational institutions, as appropriate, including coordination of data between agencies.
This section expires June 30, 2024.
[ 2021 c 302 § 107; ]
**
To ensure the readiness of the health care system and its ability to work with emergency management in responding to an emergency or disaster, the statutes and regulations set forth in this section are automatically waived or suspended upon the governor's declaration of a statewide state of emergency pursuant to RCW 43.06.010, unless:
The governor issues an order rejecting the waiver or suspension of all statutes and regulations or specific statutes or regulations based on a finding that strict compliance with the statutes or regulations would not prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in responding to the emergency or disaster; or
The statute or regulation implements or is dependent on a federal law that has not been waived by the federal government and waiving the state statute or regulation would result in a failure to comply with such federal law. For the purposes of this exception, a federal law for which the federal government has issued a statement regarding enforcement discretion is treated as waived.
The statutes and regulations that are automatically waived or suspended as provided in subsection (1) of this section are:
RCW 70.38.105(4) (a), (b), (e), and (h);
WAC 246-310-020(1) (a) through (c) and (e);
RCW 70.41.110, the following language only:
": PROVIDED, That no license issued pursuant to this chapter shall exceed thirty-six months in duration";
"premises and"; and
"Licenses shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the licensed premises.";
RCW 70.41.170;
WAC 246-320-111(1) (b) and (c);
WAC 246-320-116 (2) and (3);
WAC 246-320-296(10);
WAC 246-320-500;
WAC 246-320-505;
WAC 246-320-600;
RCW 70.41.230;
RCW 70.41.090 (3), (4), and (5);
RCW 70.41.080;
RCW 70.56.020(2)(a), the following language only: ", within forty-eight hours";
RCW 70.56.020(2)(b), the following language only: "within forty-five days";
RCW 18.64.043(1), the following language only: "of location, which shall entitle the owner to operate such pharmacy at the location specified, or such other temporary location as the secretary may approve,";
RCW 18.64.043(2)(a), the following language only: "of location";
RCW 18.64.043(3), the following language only: "and to keep the license of location or the renewal thereof properly exhibited in said pharmacy.";
WAC 246-945-230 (3)(a), (b), and (c) and (4);
RCW 43.70.280(2), the following language only: "Such extension, reduction, or other modification of a licensing, certification, or registration period shall be by rule or regulation of the department of health adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW. Such rules and regulations may provide a method for imposing and collecting such additional proportional fee as may be required for the extended or modified period.";
RCW 18.360.010(11), the following language only: "physically present and is" and "in the facility. The health care practitioner does not need to be present during procedures to withdraw blood, but must be immediately available.";
WAC 246-12-130(2)(d);
WAC 246-12-430(1)(a); and
WAC 246-12-440.
Waivers and suspensions in subsection (2) of this section do not apply except to projects undertaken to provide or respond to surge capacity, including temporary increases in bed capacity, during the governor's declaration of a statewide state of emergency. Such projects and increases in bed capacity must comply with these statutory and regulatory provisions after the termination of the state of emergency.
If the governor's proclamation of a state of emergency coincides with a state of emergency declaration by the president of the United States that includes the state of Washington and any agency of the federal government waives or suspends statutory and regulatory obligations or limitations that apply to the health care system operating in this state, for which there is a corresponding state statute or regulation that has not been automatically waived under this section, the state may not penalize a health care facility or a health care provider as defined in RCW 70.02.010 for acting in reliance on the federal waiver or suspension until the state explicitly declines to waive or suspend the corresponding state statute or regulation.
[ 2021 c XXX § 1; ]**