SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6322

              As Passed Senate, February 12, 1996

Title:  An act relating to recreational vehicle sanitary disposal facilities.

Brief Description:  Adjusting fees used for recreational vehicle sanitary facilities.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senator Owen).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/18/96, 1/23/96 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 2/12/96, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6322 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Owen, Chair; Goings, Haugen, Morton, Oke, Prentice, Prince, Rasmussen, Schow, Sellar, Thibaudeau and Wood.

Staff:  Jennifer Joly (786-7305)

Background:  In 1980, the Legislature created the RV account in the motor vehicle fund. The account is funded by an annual $1 licensing fee for each licensed camper, travel trailer, and motor home.  The Department of Transportation (DOT) is directed to use moneys deposited in the account for the construction and maintenance of recreational vehicle sanitary disposal systems in safety rest areas.

A citizens' advisory committee recommends how DOT should expend funds from the RV account.  Since the fund was created, RV dump stations have been installed in 17 of the 39 safety rest areas.  These facilities are very popular, and are often used when other public and private dump stations are closed.

Over the past few years, revenues generated by the RV licensing fee have been insufficient to cover the expenditures associated with the RV sanitary disposal systems.  The primary reasons for the insufficient revenues are:  (1) rising sewage costs; (2) heavier use of the facilities than was anticipated; and (3) the rate of inflation has outpaced the increase in the number of licensed recreational vehicles.

While there is currently a positive balance in the RV account, this has been achieved through deferral and cancellation of sanitary system construction.  Furthermore, the true cost of maintaining and operating these facilities has not been reflected in the annual maintenance charges to the RV account.  DOT plans to change this practice so that authorized costs are charged to the account. 

Summary of Bill:  The licensing fee for funding the RV account is raised from $1 to $3.  The fee increase is effective with motor vehicle fees due or to become due September 1, 1996.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 11, 1996.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  There have been no fee increases since the RV account was created in 1980.  Switching from on-site drain fields to municipal treatment has resulted in higher sewage costs.  The citizens' advisory committee which advises DOT on expenditures for RV account moneys has been working to raise the fee for a year.  They would like to prevent closures of existing facilities, and see new RV dump stations open every two to four years.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Chuck Winsor, WA State Good Sams (pro); Patti Miller Crowley, WSDOT (pro).

House Amendment(s):  The initial RV account fee increase from $1 to $3 is retained, but DOT is authorized to increase the fee by a percentage that exceeds the fiscal growth factor in the future.  (RCW 43.135.055, Initiative 601, prohibits state agencies from raising fees by an amount greater than the fiscal growth factor, i.e., the three-year average rate of population increase and inflation, without prior legislative approval.)  However, subsequent RV account fee adjustments: (1) may occur only once every four years, following consultation with representatives of the RV user community; (2) must be preceded by an evaluation; (3) may not exceed 50 cents/biennium; and (4) DOL must receive six month's prior notification.