HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1231

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to transportation appropriations.

Brief Description:  Relating to the transportation budget.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives R. Fisher, R. Meyers, Betrozoff and Paris; by request of Office of Financial Management).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, April 3, 1991, DPS;

Passed House, April 15, 1991, 93-2;

Amended by Senate.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1231 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 24 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; R. Meyers, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Cantwell; Cooper; Day; G. Fisher; Forner; Haugen; Heavey; Horn; P. Johnson; R. Johnson; Jones; Kremen; Nelson; Orr; Prince; Schmidt; Wilson; Wood; and Zellinsky.

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

Staff:  Gene Schlatter (786-7316).

Background:  The Legislature must make biennial appropriations for each agency's operating budget and capital improvements.  The transportation budget provides funding for the agencies and programs supported by transportation revenues.

Summary of Bill:  The state transportation agencies' Omnibus Capital and Operating Appropriations Act for the 1991-93 fiscal biennium is enacted.  In addition to technical changes, the bill increases planning efforts for regional high capacity transportation, provides for a pilot project for driver improvement and eliminates the fund for graduate scholarships.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): In addition to technical changes, the bill increases planning efforts for regional high capacity transportation, and provides for additional funding for category A, C and H construction.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Appropriation:  Yes.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 1991.

Testimony For:  The appropriations are necessary to fund the transportation agencies' operating budgets and capital improvement programs for the 1991-93 biennium.

Testimony Against:  The State should be concerned about getting more value for each dollar it spends.

Witnesses:  Duane Berentson, Department of Transportation (pro); Jim Clemen, Department of Transportation (pro); Mary Faulk, Department of Licensing (pro); George Tellevik, Washington State Patrol (pro); and Paul W. Locke, citizen (con).

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Yeas 93; Nays 2; Excused 3

Nays:  Representatives Fuhrman, Padden

Excused:  Representatives Beck, Bray, Peery