SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5229

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 18, 1993

Brief Description:  Permitting the department of transportation and state patrol to adopt rules to govern state rest areas.

SPONSORS: Senators Vognild, Sellar, Skratek, Winsley and Oke

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Vognild, Chairman; Loveland, Vice Chairman; Skratek, Vice Chairman; Barr, Drew, Oke, Prince, Rasmussen, M., Sheldon, and Winsley.

Staff:  Robin Rettew (786‑7306)

Hearing Dates: January 26, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Currently the Department of Transportation has rule-making authority to govern the use and control of rest areas.  However, the department finds it cannot adequately control behaviors which may be disruptive to the general traveling public such as loitering or suspected drug abuse by some individuals.

SUMMARY:

The Washington State Patrol is authorized to jointly adopt rules with the Department of Transportation governing not only the safety of the traveling public, but the conduct of the public at rest area facilities.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The Washington State Patrol and the Department of Transportation both argued a need for additional rule-making authority in order to control certain behaviors at state-owned rest areas.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Tim Erickson, Washington State Patrol; John Conrad, Department of Transportation