H-1692.1

HOUSE BILL 1607

ByRepresentatives Rude, Abbarno, Caldier, Eslick, Shewmake, Robertson, J. Johnson, Corry, Barkis, Leavitt, Callan, Taylor, Jacobsen, Slatter, Bergquist, Tharinger, Kloba, Griffey, Riccelli, Chambers, and Young

AN ACT Relating to the safe routes to schools program; amending RCW 47.04.300; adding a new section to chapter 43.79 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.79 RCW to read as follows:

From and after July 1, 2025, state appropriations for the safe routes to school program established in RCW 47.04.300 shall be paid out of the general fund. Some program funding may be coordinated with new school construction to provide connecting routes from nearby residential areas to new schools.

Sec. 2. RCW 47.04.300 and 2009 c 392 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

((Concurrent with))In coordination with the program created in the federal safe, accountable, flexible, efficient transportation equity act of 2005, a safe routes to school program is established within the department. The purpose of the program is to:

(1) Enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school;

(2) Make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age; ((and))

(3) Facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools; and

(4) Enable the planning, development, and installation of safe routes to new schools at the time the schools are constructed.

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