HB 1025 — Concerning local parks funding options.

H-2365.1H-0100.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1025 State of Washington 67th Legislature 20222021 Regular Session By House Finance (originally sponsored by Representatives Wicks, Eslick, Shewmake, Duerr, Ramel, Senn, Ortiz-Self, Ryu, Goehner, Jacobsen, and Pollet)Pollet READPrefiled FIRST12/15/20. TIME 01/28/22.

Read first time 01/11/21.

Referred to Committee on Finance.

1 SHBHB 1025 TheFinally, the legislature finds that onelocal ofparks the best and mostrecreation cost-agencies effectiveare waysdealing forwith thea residentstremendous ofgrowth Washingtonin statethe tonumber achieveof physicalsports participants and mentala health,corollary andof tosharp preventincreases costlyin diseasesdemand andfor conditionslocal suchathletic asfields, diabetes,including obesity,a heartnearly disease,300 andpercent otherincrease coronaryin conditions,adult issports toparticipation getbeing regularexperienced exerciseby andone physicaleastern activity.Washington community.

InTherefore, fact,it asis partthe intent of athe studylegislature doneto forestablish theadditional recreationstatutory andtools conservationto officehelp onlocal theparks benefitsand ofrecreation trail-basedagencies activities,better theaddress Universitymaintenance ofbacklogs, Washingtonpreserve conductedquality aopen literaturespaces, reviewand ofexpand overand 100improve studiesathletic thatfields identifiedto evidenceaccommodate the influx of aadult closeand linkageyouth betweensports healthparticipants benefitswho andare beingvying outdoors.for use of those fields.

The literature review further found that the health benefits of nature "may be particularly impactful for the 12.2 percent who have incomes below the poverty level." The legislature further finds that public parks and trails, recreation programs, and open spaces offer equitable, no-cost, or low-cost options for all residents to be active and healthy, with these spaces receiving record levels of use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finally, the legislature finds that while local parks facilities and spaces provide affordable recreation opportunities for all segments of their communities, new funding can be paired with ways to enhance equitable access to programs, and to determine how additional resources can help address imbalances for lower-income, historically underserved, and historically marginalized communities.

Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to establish additional statutory tools to help local parks and recreation agencies better address maintenance backlogs, preserve quality open spaces, better serve communities experiencing inequities and lacking access to programs, and expand and improve the number and type of facilities that support healthy living.

The title of the ballot p.measure must clearly state the purposes for which the proposed sales tax will be used.

2 SHB 1025 measure must clearly state the purposes for which the proposed sales tax will be used.

(b) If both a county and a metropolitan park district or park district within the boundaries of the county exercise the authority provided in this section, the metropolitan park district or park districtp. must impose the excise tax within its incorporated boundaries, and the county must impose the excise tax within the unincorporated areas.

2 HB 1025 district must impose the excise tax within its incorporated boundaries, and the county must impose the excise tax within the unincorporated areas.

The tax, if not imposed under the conditions of subsection (5) of this section, may p.be extended for a period not exceeding 10 years with an affirmative vote of the voters voting at the election.

3 SHB 1025 be extended for a period not exceeding 10 years with an affirmative vote of the voters voting at the election.

(7) To carry out the purposes of this section, the entity imposing the tax has the authority to issue general obligation or revenue bonds within the limitations now or hereafter prescribed by the laws of this state, for a term not to exceed 20 years, and may use,p. and is authorized to pledge, the moneys collected for repayment of such bonds.

(8)3 InHB evaluating1025 theuse, useand ofis fundsauthorized approvedto bypledge, votersthe undermoneys thiscollected section,for localrepayment parksof andsuch recreationbonds. agencies must:

(a) Use a participatory framework that includes input from a community advisory committee reflective of that agency's population demographics;

(b) Evaluate social and environmental justice conditions and impacts using the department of health's environmental health disparities map.

The evaluation must include opportunities to enhance equitable access to parks and recreation properties and facilities and program imbalance to better assure that lower income, historically underserved, and historically marginalized communities can benefit from available resources.

This evaluation must be made public through a city or county council public meeting or made available on the city's or county's public website;

and (c) Give special consideration to addressing environmental justice goals and policies, examining ways that local parks programs can help address health disparities, and measuring program performance in these areas.

4 SHBHB 1025