(1) Until January 1, 2024, a potential program operator applicant submitting a proposal in accordance with RCW 69.48.050(8) shall submit a nonrefundable proposal review fee of $157,000 to the department when they submit their proposal.

(2) After January 1, 2024, a potential program operator applicant shall submit a nonrefundable proposal review fee of $63,000 to the department when they submit their proposal in accordance with RCW 69.48.050(1). Approved program operators submitting updated proposals to the department do not submit a proposal review fee.

(3) All program operators' annual operating fees shall be identical. Each program operator's annual operating fee shall not exceed the lesser of:

(a) The department's estimated actual administrative, oversight, enforcement, and contractual costs for that fiscal year divided by the number of approved program operators; or

(b) Ten percent of the lowest annual expenditures reported to the department in any program operator's annual report and determined by the department.

(4) Annually, on or before September 1st, the department shall notify each program operator the amount of the program operator's annual operating fee.

(5) Each program operator shall submit their annual operating fee to the department by October 1st each year.