HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2619

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to alternative fuel use by taxicabs.

Brief Description:  Encouraging alternative fuel in taxicabs.

Sponsors:  Representatives Schmidt, Zellinsky, Wood, Kremen and J. Kohl.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, February 1, 1994, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 27 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Brough; Brumsickle; Cothern; Eide; Finkbeiner; Forner; Fuhrman; Hansen; Heavey; Horn; Johanson; J. Kohl; R. Meyers; Orr; Patterson; Quall; Romero; Sheldon; Shin; Wood and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Roger Horn (786-7839).

Background:  Cities, towns, counties and port districts license, control and regulate privately operated taxicab transportation services operating within their jurisdictions.  These local governments determine the number of licenses to be issued and the criteria to determine who shall receive them.

Alternative fuels include natural gas, propane, alcohol and other fuels that serve as an alternative to gasoline.  The use of these fuels is encouraged as a means of improving air quality.

Beginning with the 1996 model year, 10 percent of state vehicles purchased for vehicle fleet concentrations of 20 or more must be equipped to operate using alternative fuel to meet federal clean air requirements.  King County has a mandate in effect to increase the number of alternatively fueled vehicles in its fleets.  Some transit agencies are now operating buses powered by alternative fuels.

Summary of Bill:  Political subdivisions that regulate taxicab service are encouraged to include among their licensees, when practicable, taxicab owners who operate vehicles using alternative fuels.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Increasing the number of vehicles using alternative fuels would improve air quality in the Puget Sound area and other parts of the state.  Taxicab companies using alternative fuel could provide refueling stations that would be available to government and private vehicles.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  William Grady, attorney (pro); and Doug Bohlke, Washington Taxicab Association (neutral).