SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6773

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 8, 2000

 

Title:  An act relating to county road construction projects.

 

Brief Description:  Adjusting day labor allowances for county road construction.

 

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen and Bauer.

 

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/7/2000, 2/8/2000 [DPS, DNP].

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

 

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6773 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Eide, Finkbeiner, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Morton, Oke, Sheahan and Swecker.

 

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senators Benton and Heavey.

 

Staff:  Michelle Chase (786-7305)

 

Background:  Current law permits counties to utilize day labor to construct or improve county roads if such costs total no more than the annual limits specified by statute.  These annual limits are either a percentage of the total annual county road construction budget or a specific dollar amount.  The percentage and the dollar amount allowed varies depending on the total annual county road construction budget.

 

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The existing county day labor annual limits for construction or improve­ment of county roads is increased by 10 percent.  Budget threshold limits are clarified.

 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Budget threshold limits are clarified.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

 

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

 

Testimony For:  This bill helps counties, particularly smaller counties.

 

Testimony Against:  This bill will not save money and will hurt private contractors, especially small contractors.  The existing limits were negotiated and changing these limits is not an effective way to save money.

 

Testified:  Jim Potts, representing rural counties (pro); Robert Dilger, WA State Building and Construction Trades Council (con).