The bill amends RCW 82.14.460 to clarify the use of sales and use tax revenues for chemical dependency and mental health treatment programs, as well as therapeutic court programs. It establishes that the operation and delivery of these services are part of local government public safety programs, and it explicitly allows for the new construction of facilities and modifications to existing structures to support these services. The bill emphasizes that funds collected from the tax must be used solely for the operation or delivery of these programs, including treatment services, case management, transportation, and housing.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific provisions for how collected funds can be used to supplant existing funding for these programs, depending on the population size of the county or city imposing the tax. It allows for a gradual reduction in the percentage of funds that can be used to replace existing funding over several years, with different rules for larger and smaller jurisdictions. The legislation also ensures that funds can be used to cover costs associated with therapeutic court operations, including judicial officers and support staff, and it clarifies that the use of these funds is not prohibited for replacing lapsed federal funding previously allocated for similar services.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 82.14.460
Bill as Passed Legislature: 82.14.460
Session Law: 82.14.460