FINAL BILL REPORT
SHB 1503
C 58 L 89
BYHouse Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Ebersole, Schmidt, Walk, Nelson, Jones, Zellinsky, R. Fisher, Beck, S. Wilson, Wang, Heavey, Brough, Schoon, Tate and P. King; by request of Department of Transportation)
Relaxing bonding requirements on ferry contracts.
House Committe on Transportation
Senate Committee on Transportation
SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED
BACKGROUND:
Existing law (RCW 39.08.030) requires a contractor's bond for all public works contracts in excess of $25,000 to be in an amount equal to the full contract price.
The Department of Transportation, Marine Division, has been unable to obtain viable bids on Ferry System vessel construction, alteration, repair or maintenance projects due, in part, to the inability of bidders to obtain state-required bonding. The bonding problem has significantly impacted the Marine Division's ability to construct or repair ferry system vessels in a timely fashion.
SUMMARY:
On contracts for the construction, maintenance or repair of marine vessels, the Department of Transportation is authorized to substitute alternative forms of security in lieu of the bond. Acceptable alternative forms of security include: certified check, replacement bond, cashier's check, treasury bill, an irrevocable bank letter of credit, or assignment of a savings account. Other liquid assets approved by the Secretary of Transportation as well as a combination of a bond and an alternative form of security are also authorized.
The Secretary of Transportation is required to predetermine and provide, in the bid package, the amount of the alternative security or bond. The bond or alternative security must be in an amount adequate to protect 100 percent of the state's exposure to loss.
The Department of Transportation is required to adopt rules that establish the procedures for determining the state's exposure to loss.
VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:
House 95 0
Senate 45 0
EFFECTIVE:April 19, 1989