HOUSE BILL REPORT
SSB 6248
As Reported by House Committee On:
Transportation
Title: An act relating to funding bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Brief Description: Funding bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Jacobsen, Kohl‑Welles, Kline and Brown).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 2/20/02, 3/4/02 [DPA].
|
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill (As Amended by House Committee) |
|
$A special Cooper Jones license plate emblem is established. |
|
$Proceeds from the sale of these emblems are to be used for bicycle and pedestrian safety education.
|
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 21 members: Representatives Fisher, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Lovick, Vice Chair; Ericksen, Haigh, Hatfield, Holmquist, Jackley, Jarrett, Mielke, Morell, Murray, Ogden, Reardon, Rockefeller, Romero, Schindler, Simpson, Sullivan, Wood and Woods.
Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 4 members: Representatives Mitchell, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Hankins and Skinner.
Staff: Penny Nerup (786‑7335).
Background:
In 1997 13-year-old Cooper Jones was killed in Spokane while riding his bicycle in an approved bicycle rally. In 1998 the Cooper Jones Act was passed, which created an advisory committee to develop programs to promote bicycle and pedestrian safety and to advise the Traffic Safety Commission on these issues. Members of the advisory committee include persons from all affected agencies, the insurance industry, and organized bicycle groups (like the Seattle-to-Portland race committee).
The Cooper Jones Act also created the bicycle and pedestrian safety account to support the education and safety programs. Currently, this account is funded predominantly with some donations from private sources. Federal grants are used to fund projects.
Summary of Amended Bill:
A special Cooper Jones license plate is established.
The Department of Licensing (DOL), the Washington State Patrol, and the Traffic Safety Commission are required to design an appropriate special license plate for distribution by the DOL. The initial fee for this special plate is $25; DOL may deduct up to $12 of this amount to pay its administration costs. The fee for annual renewal is $20; DOL may deduct up to $2 of this amount for administrative costs. The proceeds from the sale of these special plates are credited to the bicycle and pedestrian safety account to be used for safety education.
Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:
Instead of designating a special Cooper Jones license plate, Cooper Jones emblems are created and designed by the Traffic Safety Commission, the Department of Licensing, and the Washington State Patrol. Profits from the sale of the emblems will be deposited in the bicycle and pedestrian safety account to be used for safety education.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This is a voluntary way to pay for this safety program. Since it was created, the Cooper Jones committee has provided wonderful programs. This is an appropriate option to fund this program.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Senator Jacobsen, prime sponsor; Martha and David Jones, parents of Cooper Jones; Steve Lind, Traffic Safety Commission; and Don Martin, Bicycle Alliance of Washington.