FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5553

                              C 163 L 89

BYSenate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Patterson, Hansen, Madsen and Benitz; by request of Utilities and Transportation Commission)

Deregulating excursion buses.

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committe on Transportation

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

An excursion service transports persons, on an individual fare basis, on public highways from points of origin in an incorporated area to another location in the state and then returns to the origin.  The service cannot pick up or drop off passengers along the route and the service may or may not be regularly scheduled.  An example of an excursion service is Gray Line which offers sightseeing tours to individual tourists.

Excursion companies are currently regulated by the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) as auto transportation companies.  Auto transportation companies operate on a fixed route and schedule, may pick up and drop off passengers along the route, and charge individual fares.

Last year legislation was enacted which revised the regulatory authority of the UTC with regard to passenger charter services.  The commission's authority to regulate rates was removed, and the UTC's safety authority was expanded to include interstate and foreign charters.

Excursion services provide the same type of service as charter buses, i.e., a fixed route or schedule is not required, and passengers must be returned to the point of origin.  Compensation is based on a contract for charter carriers and upon an individual fare for excursion services.  It is in the best interest of the industry to place excursion services under the same regulations as charter buses.

SUMMARY:

Excursion services are no longer regulated as auto transportation companies and are subject to the same Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) regulatory provisions as charter buses.

Rate regulation for intrastate excursion carriers is removed.  The entry standard is changed from Public Convenience and Necessity to Fit, Willing and Able for intrastate carriers.  The application fee or transfer fee is a maximum of $200.  Intrastate excursion carriers are subject to the commission's driver qualification and safety provisions, insurance provisions, and payment of the annual per vehicle regulatory fee.  The annual regulatory fee cannot exceed the cost of supervising and regulating the carriers.

Interstate and foreign excursion carriers with Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) operating or exempt authority are required to register with the UTC if operating in Washington.  A one-time $25 registration fee is imposed.  These carriers are also subject to the annual regulatory fee, and the UTC's safety of operations and insurance provisions.

The liability insurance provisions are:  $100,000 personal injury to one person; $300,000 for each vehicle with a passenger seating capacity of 16 or less; $500,000 for a vehicle with a passenger seating capacity of 17 or more; and $50,000 property damage to any one person.  An interstate excursion carrier that qualifies as a self-insurer with the ICC is exempt from the UTC insurance provisions as long as the ICC qualification remains in effect.

Airporter services are not impacted since they are considered auto transportation companies.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   48    0

     House 96  0

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989