SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6084

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Ways & Means, April 29, 2015

Title: An act relating to accident report record fees and surcharges.

Brief Description: Concerning accident report record fees and surcharges.

Sponsors: Senator Hill; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 4/29/15 [DPS, DNP, w/oRec].

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6084 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Braun, Vice Chair; Dammeier, Vice Chair; Honeyford, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Hargrove, Ranking Member; Keiser, Assistant Ranking Member on the Capital Budget; Bailey, Becker, Billig, Brown, Conway, Fraser, Hatfield, Hewitt, Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Rolfes, Schoesler and Warnick.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Hasegawa and Padden.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senator O'Ban.

Staff: Julie Murray (786-7711)

Background: The Justice Information Data Exchange (JINDEX) was a project created out of the Traffic Records Committee in support of the Electronic Traffic Information Processing (eTRIP) Initiative.  The eTRIP Initiative is a collaborative effort among state and local agencies to create a seamless and integrated system though which traffic-related information can be shared electronically. Implemented in the 2007-09 biennium, JINDEX serves as the primary exchange mechanism for electronic citations, infractions, and collision reports. It allows for the rapid sharing and exchange of justice information in a structured, yet flexible, environment. Applications that utilize JINDEX allow for a single connection point to access, exchange, or route information from other systems.

The Department of Information Services (DIS) was identified as the agency to host JINDEX as well as run the program to on-board additional jurisdictions (other cities and counties). The general fund was identified as the fund source to build the architecture of the program. During the 2011-2013 biennium, DIS was eliminated and its functions and activities were spread between the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) and Consolidated Technology Services (CTS). CTS represented the utility side of information technology for the state and OCIO provided policy and oversight of information technology. However, various programs, such as JINDEX and the Geographic Information System, remained with OCIO.

Summary of Bill (Recommended Substitute): A $6 surcharge is added to the existing collision records fee to replace the general funds used to support JINDEX costs. Surcharge funds are deposited into the State Patrol Highway Account for State Patrol, which is responsible for JINDEX. Revenue from the existing collision record fee – $9.50 – is redirected from the Motor Vehicle Fund to the State Patrol Highway Account.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute): Clarifies that the surcharge applies to when an accident report is furnished rather than requested.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This issue was discovered as we developed legislation to reorganize the OCIO into CTS. Imposing the additional $6 surcharge and transferring JINDEX to State Patrol allows for a general fund reduction. The technical amendment will not change the fiscal note of the bill.

OTHER: Seeking a technical amendment to use the term furnished rather than requested. Language could be read that the surcharge applies when any request for a record is made even if a record is not provided.

Persons Testifying: PRO: John Lane, Office of Financial Management.

OTHER: Diana Carlen, Reed Elsevier/LexisNexis.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.