HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2840

BYRepresentatives R. Fisher, Schmidt and R. Meyers 

Creating the position of executive director of the county road administration board.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (22)

      Signed by Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair, Eastern Washington; R. Meyers, Vice Chair, Western Washington; Schmidt, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bennett, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, G. Fisher, Forner, Gallagher, Hankins, Jones, Kremen, Nelson, Prentice, D. Sommers, Todd, Walker, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Heavey.

House Staff:Gene Schlatter (786-7316)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 12, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In 1948, a comprehensive study was made of the county road program.  The report identified a number of deficiencies.  In 1962, another study was undertaken and the findings indicated that the county road programming deficiencies had not been corrected.  After further studies, legislation was passed in 1965 creating the County Road Administration Board (CRAB).

The legislation provided for the appointment of a County Road Administration Engineer to be the chief executive officer for the new board.  The responsibilities of this position were specifically related to county road planning and engineering standards for construction and maintenance.  Logically, the position required a licensed professional engineer with experience as a county engineer.

As the role of CRAB has expanded over the years, so have the responsibilities of the County Road Administrative Engineer who now has a major role in overall state transportation policy.

SUMMARY:

The requirement that the administrator for the County Road Administration Board be a licensed professional engineer with experience in county engineering is eliminated.  The title is changed from County Road Administration Engineer to Executive Director.  The executive director is exempt from civil service and the salary is set by the board.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Ernie Geissler, County Road Administration Engineer.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The County Road Administration Board's (CRAB) role in the state's multimodal transportation policy has grown since its legislative inception in 1965.  Therefore, the CRAB should be permitted to hire an executive director with the qualifications which meet its long range goals and objectives.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.