FIN 2017-07-18 COMPLETE AGENDA PACKET

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circumstances, or the Department determines that a delay is necessary to ensure that the transition to the mandatory Department issuance and renewal of general business license is as seamless as possible. Additionally, if a city submits written notice that they need to delay implementation due to fiscal or technical challenges, the Department can delay implementation for that city for up to three years. Cities are exempt from partnering with the Department to issue and renew licenses through the BLS if the city participates in the FileLocal program as of July 1, 2020. By January 1, 2018, and January 1 of each even - numbered year thereafter, the Department must establish a biennial plan for partnering with cities and submit it to the Governor, the Legislature, affected cities, the AWC, the AWB, the NFIB, and the WRA (stakeholders). The Department can alter the plan with a minimum notice of 30 days to affected cities. By January 1, 2019, and each January 1 thereafter through January 1, 2028, the Department must submit a progress report to the Legislature to provide information about the progress of the efforts to partner with all cities that impose a license requirement. Partnering cities may adopt a broad fee structure, but it must be within the Department's technological ability to administer. If the Department is unable to administer a city's fee structure, the city must work with the Department to adopt a fee structure that is administrable by the Department. If a city does not work with the Department, the city may not enforce its general business licensing'requirements until the effective date of a fee structure that is administrable by the Department. Cities may not require businesses to renew a license more than once per year. The BLS is not required to accommodate fees imposed by a city on a business for failing to obtain or renew a license. The Department may refuse to administer any license ordinance that is inconsistent with the rest of this bill. The Department's authority to administer a partnering city's licensing laws is limited to: issuing or renewing licenses; and refusing to issue a license due to an incomplete application, nonpayment of fees, or penalties for late renewal. Partnering cities have the authority to set licensing fees, provide exemptions and thresholds, approve or deny licenses, and take appropriate administrative action against licensees. Cities may only require a business to obtain or renew a license if they engage in business within the respective city. Partnering cities must provide the Department 75 days notice if the city changes who must obtain a license, who is exempt from obtaining a license, or the amount or method of determining any fee to issue or renew a license. Cities, working through the AWC, must form a committee to develop and adopt a general business licensing model ordinance by July 1, 2018. The ordinance must include a definition of "engaging in business within the city" and a uniform minimum licensing threshold under which a person is exempt from obtaining a license. Cities must adopt the provisions of the model ordinance by January 1, 2019, or they may not enforce their licensing requirements until they adopt the ordinance. Cities must coordinate with the AWC to submit a report to the Governor, the Legislature, and stakeholders to provide information about the model ordinance and identify cities that have and have not adopted the provisions. The report must incorporate comments from statewide business organizations concerning the model ordinance House Bill Report 18 - 4 - EHB 2005