SENATE BILL REPORT

                           ESSB 5180

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 8, 1994

Brief Description:  Revising provisions relating to the legislative transportation committee.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Vognild, Nelson, Skratek, Winsley, Loveland, Drew, Prince, Sellar, Sheldon, Prentice, von Reichbauer, Barr, Erwin and Roach)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5180 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Vognild, Chairman; Loveland, Vice Chairman; Skratek, Vice Chairman; Drew, Haugen, Morton, Nelson, Oke, Prentice, Prince, M. Rasmussen, Schow, Sellar, Sheldon and Winsley.

Staff:  Gene Baxstrom (786‑7303)

Hearing Dates: January 27, 1993; January 17, 1994

BACKGROUND:

The Legislative Transportation Committee was first established in law in 1947 as the Joint Fact Finding Committee on Highways, Streets and Bridges.  It contains 12 members -- one Senator and one Representative from each of the six state Department of Highways districts.  In the intervening years, the committee's name was changed, geographical representation requirements were dropped, the membership was gradually increased, and in 1959 a one-member majority for the House was established.

The Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate appoint members to the committee at the close of session in odd-numbered years.

Since 1967 membership has consisted of 12 Representatives and 11 Senators.  From the beginning, appointees from each house have reflected the party split within each house.

The law is silent as to the process for selection of officers of the committee.

SUMMARY:

The number of Senate members on the Legislative Transportation Committee is increased from 11 to 12 (to equal the number of House members).  The party split for appointees from each house is made equal.  Vacancies must be filled from the same house and party as the original appointment.

It is specified the committee will elect a chair every two years, the chairmanship shall rotate between the House and Senate, and the chair elected at the close of the 1995 session shall be a Senator.

The new membership requirements are to take effect with appointments to the committee which is constituted at the end of the 1995 session.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:  None

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  No one