H-3402              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1454

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representatives Zellinsky, Schmidt, Haugen, Smitherman, Schoon, Thomas, Brough, Vekich, Lundquist, S. Wilson, McMullen and May

Read first time 1/15/86 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to state support for operation of the state ferry system; and adding new sections to chapter 47.60 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW to read as follows:

          The state of Washington, as a public policy, declares that the state ferry system is a part of the state highway system, and a unique public transportation system and tourist attraction, which will best serve the public if the state and the users of the system share equally in supporting its operation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW to read as follows:

          When developing the biennial budget in accordance with RCW 47.01.071(5), the transportation commission shall propose an operating budget for the Washington state ferry system that provides for payment of fifty percent of the projected operating expenditures from anticipated system revenues, including farebox revenue, advertising, and other revenue-generating activities of the system.  The remaining fifty percent of operating costs shall be paid from motor vehicle fund revenues or other transportation revenue sources provided to the ferry system by law for that purpose.

          If anticipated revenues available to support ferry system operating expenses from existing state sources are not expected to be sufficient to provide fifty percent of the operating expenditures of the system, the commission shall propose for consideration by the legislature such statutory changes as it determines are necessary to generate the additional state revenues required.