SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5506

BYSenators Newhouse, Gaspard, Lee, Benitz and Anderson; by request of Department of Community Development

Making appropriations for projects recommended by the public works board.

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 22, 1989; February 27, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5506 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Fleming, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Matson, Moore, Newhouse, Niemi, Owen, Saling, Smith, Talmadge, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Steve Jones (786-7715)

                  February 28, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, FEBRUARY 27, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Under Chapter 43.155 RCW, the Public Works Board, within the Department of Community Development, may make low-interest or interest-free loans to assist local governments in financing public works projects.  Eligible public works include roads, bridges, water systems, and storm and sanitary sewage systems.  The statute establishes eligibility criteria for local governments and priorities for projects.  Each year, the board submits a list of projects to the Legislature for approval and appropriation.  The Legislature may delete a project from the list but may not add any projects or change the order of project priorities.

SUMMARY:

$38,931,540 is appropriated from the public works assistance account to the Public Works Board for a list of 64 projects for the 1987-89 fiscal biennium.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

An additional $1 million is appropriated for unanticipated emergency public works.  The existing 1987-89 appropriation to the Public Works Board is reduced by $5.9 million to reflect unused appropriation authority.

Appropriation:    $39,931,540 from the public works assistance account

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified: Robert C. Anderson, Chair, Public Works Board (pro); Pete Butkus, DCD (pro); Bill Mudge, Washington State Association of Sewer Districts (pro); Jim Justin, Association of Cities (pro); Joe Daniels, Washington Association of Water/Wastewater Districts (pro)