HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2111

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to transportation appropriations.

Brief Description:  Adopting the supplemental transportation budget.

Sponsors:  Representative R. Fisher; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, March 30, 1993, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 23 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brough; Brumsickle; Cothern; Eide; Finkbeiner; Forner; Fuhrman; Hansen; Heavey; Horn; J. Kohl; Miller; H. Myers; Quall; Sheldon; Shin; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Robin Rettew (786-7306).

Background:  The Board of Pilotage Commissioners (BPC) has two lawsuits pending relating to the setting of tariffs and pilot discipline.  Although the board is funded by pilot license fees, additional appropriation authority is required in order to make payments on the lawsuits.

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) requested additional appropriation authority to provide for the settlement arising from WSP cadet overtime litigation.

The Department of Licensing (DOL) has been found to be out of compliance with certain Department of Revenue requirements.  Back sales taxes are owed on the contract awarded to Polaroid for driver license photographs.

The DOL was required by the 1992 Legislature (ESHB 2964) to develop a system for specifically registering rental vehicles, but no appropriation authority was provided.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) requested additional appropriation authority (a) to pay for damages to the State Route (SR) 520 floating bridge and for enhanced maintenance of the bridge; (b) for additional snow and ice removal costs incurred; (c) for additional costs incurred at rest areas; and (d) for accelerated road repair work.

Current appropriations to the maintenance, administrative and planning programs of the DOT were reduced by the Office of Financial Management to force the department to absorb additional charges made to the DOT by other agencies.

Summary of Amended Bill:  An additional appropriation authority of $17,000 is provided to the BPC for settlement of pending litigation.

For sales tax owed on the Polaroid contract $149,000 is provided to DOL ; and $394,500 is provided for the system changes required to register rental cars as a unique class of vehicles.

To fund the increased snow and ice requirements of the DOT $3.8 million is provided.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Appropriation authority to cover the settlement costs against the WSP is not provided in the striking amendment.  Instead, increased funding is included in the 1993-95 budget.

No funding is provided to the DOT for rest areas, road repairs or work on the SR 520 floating bridge.  These issues are addressed in the 1993-95 budget.

No funding is provided for increased charges from other agencies to the DOT.  These issues are addressed in the 1993-95 budget.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.