HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5988

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Transportation

Title: An act relating to additive transportation funding and appropriations.

Brief Description: Concerning additive transportation funding and appropriations.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators King, Hobbs, Fain, Liias and Litzow).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 3/26/15, 4/14/15 [DPA].

Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

(As Amended by Committee)

Appropriates a total of $407 million in 2015-17 from several state accounts to state transportation agencies and programs for various transportation purposes.
Makes distributions of $53 million in 2015-17 to cities and counties for transportation purposes.
Transfers amounts between transportation accounts.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 16 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Farrell, Vice Chair; Fey, Vice Chair; Moscoso, Vice Chair; Bergquist, Gregerson, Kochmar, McBride, Moeller, Morris, Ortiz-Self, Riccelli, Rodne, Sells, Tarleton and Zeiger.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Harmsworth, Hayes, Pike, Shea, Wilson and Young.

Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 1 member: Representative Takko.

Staff: Amy Skei (786-7109).

Background:

The operating and capital expenses of state transportation agencies and programs are provided for on a biennial basis by an omnibus transportation budget adopted by the Legislature in odd-numbered years. Additionally, supplemental budgets or additive spending measures may be adopted during a biennium, making various modifications to agency appropriations.

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Summary of Amended Bill:

Appropriations totaling $407 million are provided for certain state transportation agencies and programs for the 2015-17 fiscal biennium.

The bill distributes $53 million in fuel tax receipts to cities and counties for transportation purposes for the 2015-17 fiscal biennium.

The bill makes several transfers between transportation accounts and amends the use of certain accounts during the 2015-17 fiscal biennium to permit the transfers.

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Substitute Bill:

All language in the underlying bill is removed. It is replaced with an appropriations act for the 2015-17 fiscal biennium that: (1) makes a total of $459.75 million in additive appropriations to state transportation agencies and programs, cities, and counties; (2) transfers amounts between accounts; and (3) amends account usages to permit the transfers.

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Appropriation: A total of $459.750 million is appropriated from various transportation accounts.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

Please refer to the March 26, 2015, recording of the public hearing.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Senator King, prime sponsor; Senator Hobbs; Senator Liias; John Lovick, Snohomish County; Helen Price-Johnson, David Sauter and Kevin Bouchey, Washington State Association of Counties; Duke Schaub, Associated General Contractors; Claudia Balducci and Kevin Wallace, City of Bellevue; Ruth Perez, City of Renton; Todd Woosley, Bellevue Chamber of Commerce; Jim Hedrick, Greater Spokane, Incorporated; Francis Benjamin, Association of Washington Cities; Ryan Mello, City of Tacoma; Steve Peterson, City of Liberty Lake; Dave Earling, City of Edmonds; Michael Courts, City of DuPont; Steve Robinson, Phillips 66; Ashley Hellenberg, Port of Longview; Scott Walstra, Cowlitz Economic Development Council; Dennis Webber, Cowlitz County; David Moseley, DM Consulting; Dave Zabell, City of Pasco; Alex Soldano, City of Spokane; Vern Little, City of Lake Stevens; Thea Goodwin, Key Bank and Lake Stevens Chamber of Commerce; Doug Levy, City of Everett; Al Aldrich, Cities of Marysville, Arlington, and Snohomish; Glenn Coil, Economic Alliance Snohomish; Ron Harding, City of Yelm; Bruce Nurse, Kemper Development Company; E. J. Swainson, Washington State Patrol Lieutenants Association; Jeff Merrill, Washington State Patrol Troopers Association; William Farris, Tom Huntington and Phillip Lemley, City of Richland; Matt Larson, Snoqualmie/Sound Cities Association; David Baker, City of Kenmore; Dave Hoogerwerf and Walt Elliott, Ferry Advisory Council; Jeanne Burbidge, City of Federal Way; Don Vondran, City of Covington; and Ashley Probart, Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board.

(In support with concerns) Will Knedlik, Truth in Taxation.

(In support with amendment(s)) Tim Ballew, Lummi Indian Nation; and Satpal Sidhu, Whatcom County.

(Opposed) None.

(Other) Charles Knutson, Office of the Governor; Lynn Peterson, Washington State Department of Transportation; Jim McIntire, Office of the State Treasurer; Ed Murray, City of Seattle; Jay Arnold, City of Kirkland; and Bruce Wynn, Kirkland Chamber of Commerce.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.