SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6372

                    As of January 19, 1996

Title:  An act relating to transportation funding and appropriations.

Brief Description:  Funding transportation.

Sponsors:  Senators Owen and Prince; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/17/96.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Staff:  Brad Lovaas (786-7307)

Background:  Appropriation authority is required for the expenditure of state funds.  State government operates on the basis of a fiscal biennium that begins on July 1 of each odd-numbered year.  A biennial transportation budget was enacted in the 1995 session to fund transportation agencies and programs from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1997.

The Governor signed into law the 1995-97 transportation budget totaling just under $3.117 billion of appropriations from over 30 different funds and accounts.

Two-thirds of the dollars appropriated in the transportation budget are for capital programs, and one-third is appropriated for operating programs of the transportation agencies.

The motor vehicle fund is the primary funding source of transportation programs, providing 45 percent or $1.4 billion of transportation appropriations in the 1995-97 transportation budget.

The Legislature provided fiscal year 1996 (FY 96)-only funding for several transportation agencies' programs.

Summary of Bill:  Appropriation authority of the transportation agencies is increased by $167.5 million for the remainder of the 1995-97 biennium.  The Governor's budget appropriates the $167.5 million to eight state agencies: the Department of Transportation ($71.6 million), the Transportation Improvement Board ($55.8 million), the County Road Administration Board ($20.0 million), the Department of Licensing ($15.6 million), the State Parks and Recreation Commission ($2.1 million), the Office of Marine Safety ($385,000), and the Transportation Commission ($87,000).

Appropriation:  $167.5 million.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.