HOUSE BILL REPORT

                     SSB 5720

                              As Passed House

                               April 10, 1991

Title:  An act relating to motorist information signs.

Brief Description:  Recodifying statutes on motorist information signs.

Sponsor(s):  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Patterson, Vognild and Nelson; by request of Department of Transportation).

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, March 28, 1991, DP;

Passed House, April 10, 1991, 93-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 20 members:  Representatives R. Meyers, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Cantwell; Day; G. Fisher; Forner; Haugen; Horn; R. Johnson; Kremen; Nelson; Orr; Prentice; Prince; Schmidt; Wilson; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Brian McMorrow (786-7304).

Background:  Logos that are installed on highway rights of way are authorized by RCW 47.42, the Scenic Vistas Act, which regulates advertising signs such as billboards located on private property that are visible to interstate and state highways.  Since 1974, when they were incorporated into the Scenic Vistas Act, logos have become nationally recognized traffic control devices.

Summary of Bill:  This legislation moves RCW 47.42.020(10), (11), (13) and (14), 47.42.046, 47.42.047, 47.42.0475, 47.42.052, 47.42.160 and 47.42.170 into Chapter 47.36, Traffic Control Devices.  RCW 47.42.160, State Parks Signs, is included because these signs are traffic control devices installed on highway rights of way.  Adopt-a-highway signs are recodified into RCW 47.36, Traffic Control Devices.

The Department of Transportation must ensure that specific information panels, such as motorist information panels with the words, gas, food or lodging, are installed within nine months of receiving the request for installation from business persons.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.