HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 2067

                       As Passed House

                       March 16, 1993

Title:  An act relating to state agency commute trip reduction programs.

Brief Description:  Encouraging commute trip reduction programs.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives R. Fisher, Wolfe, Anderson, Schmidt, Locke, Pruitt, Kremen, Springer and Eide; by request of Department of General Administration).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, March 4, 1993, DPS;

Passed House, March 16, 1993, 92-5.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 16 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Cothern; Finkbeiner; Heavey; Johanson; J. Kohl; R. Meyers; H. Myers; Orr; Patterson; Quall; Sheldon; Shin; and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Eide; Forner; Fuhrman; Hansen; Horn; Miller; and Wood.

Staff:  Brian McMorrow (786-7304).

Background:  The commute trip reduction law requires state agencies to reduce the number of their employees traveling by single-occupancy vehicle to their work sites.  The Legislature has required an interagency task force to recommend policies that would encourage state employees to walk, bike or use any one of several ride-sharing alternatives for their daily commute.

Summary of Bill:  State employees may use state-owned or leased vehicles for ride sharing as part of the commute trip reduction program required by the state Clean Air Act.

All money collected from rental or parking spaces at state-owned or leased property must be deposited in the State Capitol Vehicle Parking Account.  Money deposited in the account must first be used for pledged purposes.  The unpledged portion of the money may be used to operate state-owned and leased parking facilities, support commute trip reduction programs related to the state Clean Air Act, and pay for the lease of and capital investment in state parking facilities.  The Office of Financial Management will distribute funds from the account after considering the recommendations of the director of General Administration and the Interagency Task Force for Commute Trip Reduction.

State agencies may use public funds for programs that encourage employees who use carpools, vanpools and public transit.

The director of the Department of General Administration must ensure parking fees are equivalent to the market rate of comparable privately owned rental parking no later than December 31, 1994. The director is permitted to charge fees less than the market rate for vehicles other than single-occupant vehicles.

All state higher education institutions are exempt from this bill.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The bill permits state agencies to implement effectively the requirements of the state commute trip reduction law.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  John Franklin, Department of General Administration; Joan Cullen, Department of General Administration; and Jim Slakey, Department of Transportation.