S-3043               _______________________________________________

                                    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 118

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Peterson, Patterson, Barr, Johnson, Metcalf, Conner, Halsan, Stratton, Granlund, Deccio, Bender and Bottiger

Read first time 4/26/85 and referred to Committee on

WHEREAS, The number of gasoline service stations has continued to decline in a manner that will reduce competition and the availability of gasoline at a reasonable price; and

          WHEREAS, The Bureau of Industrial Economics of the United States Department of Commerce reports that there were 132,080 retail gas stations operating in the United States in 1984, compared to 226,459 existing in 1972; and

          WHEREAS, A disproportionate share of closures in the industry are independent dealers; and

          WHEREAS, There is a great concern among citizens that some refiners have engaged in predatory pricing designed to increase the market for oil companies using refiner owned and operated retail outlets;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That there is hereby created a joint House and Senate select committee to study and investigate those measures that will protect independent gasoline dealers and prevent unfair practices engaged in by refinery owned or operated stations; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the select committee shall be composed of not less than six and not more than twelve members equally divided between the House and the Senate, appointed by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the select committee shall be granted powers inherent in the Legislature including subpoena powers; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the select committee shall submit to the Legislature no later than December 1, 1985, a full and detailed report on its findings, including recommendations for amending existing law in a manner that will best serve the public interest.