H-0605.2                  _______________________________________________

                                                      HOUSE BILL 1610

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Representatives Morton, Sheahan, Edmondson, Casada, Schoesler, Fuhrman and Chandler

Read first time 02/03/93.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Requiring out-of-state commercial transportation companies to meet the same regulatory requirements as in state transportation companies.

          AN ACT Relating to commercial logging transportation; adding new sections to chapter 81.04 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that the cost of providing safe, reliable commercial logging transportation based in Washington state creates an economic incentive for the use of lower cost, less safe, and less reliable transportation, that is not based in Washington state.

          The purpose of this act is to provide a fair, cost-effective regulatory environment that will provide for public safety and reliable commercial logging transportation in a manner that neither favors nor detracts from the ability of Washington-based commercial transports to compete for business.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 81.04 RCW to read as follows:

          The department of labor and industries shall require that all commercial logging transportation companies operating in Washington state provide workers compensation coverage that is at least equal to the coverage required of Washington state-based companies and that the cost per hour of operation in Washington state for the coverage shall be at least equal to the cost per hour born by a Washington state-based commercial logging transportation company.  The department of labor and industries may assess fees against out-of-state commercial logging transportation company operators if necessary, to ensure that the cost per hour of operation is not less for out-of-state firms.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 81.04 RCW to read as follows:

          The utilities and transportation commission shall require that all commercial logging transportation companies operating in Washington state be subject to the same regulatory restrictions.  The commission may assess fees against commercial logging transportation companies based outside of Washington state if necessary, to ensure that  the cost per mile of operation is not less for commercial logging transportation companies based out-of-state.

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