SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5856

               AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 11, 1993

Brief Description:  Authorizing certain real property transactions.

SPONSORS: Senators Vognild, Nelson and Skratek

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Vognild, Chairman; Loveland, Vice Chairman; Skratek, Vice Chairman; Drew, Haugen, Nelson, Oke, Prince, M. Rasmussen, Sheldon, von Reichbauer, and Winsley.

Staff:  Jennifer Joly (786‑7305)

Hearing Dates: March 1, 1993

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

BACKGROUND:

The 18th Amendment of the Washington State Constitution provides that revenues deposited in the motor vehicle fund may only be used for support of state, city, and county highway maintenance and construction; highway related activities of the Washington State Patrol; the State Ferry System; and other highway purposes.

The State Patrol highway account of the motor vehicle fund is used exclusively to fund highway activities of the Washington State Patrol.  Currently, there is no law providing that revenues derived from the sale of real property under the jurisdiction of the Washington State Patrol be deposited in the State Patrol highway account.

Accounts in the transportation fund are to be used for general transportation purposes and are not restricted to "highway purposes" per the 18th Amendment.

The highway safety account of the transportation fund is used  to carry out the laws relating to driver licensing, driver improvement, driver financial responsibility, and to cover the cost of furnishing and maintaining abstracts of driving records.

To date, neither the Washington State Patrol, nor the Department of Licensing have bought or sold any real property under their respective jurisdictions.  Currently, the Department of Licensing leases all of its drivers' licensing offices.

The Director of the Department of General Administration, on behalf of the Washington State Patrol and the Department of Licensing, is authorized to purchase, lease, rent, or otherwise acquire all necessary real estate.

SUMMARY:

The Washington State Patrol is authorized, for the purpose of locating State Patrol facilities, to acquire real property on behalf of the state.

Revenues generated from the sale of real property under the jurisdiction of the Washington State Patrol are deposited in the State Patrol highway account of the motor vehicle fund.  Thus, revenues generated from such sales are used for the traffic related activities of the Field Operations Bureau and the Support Services Bureau.  These revenues are also available for Washington State Patrol administration.

Additionally, the Department of Licensing is authorized, for the purpose of locating Department of Licensing facilities, to acquire real property on behalf of the state.

Revenues generated from the sale of real property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Licensing are deposited in the highway safety fund.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

Revenues generated by the sale of real property under the jurisdiction of the Washington State Patrol should be deposited in the State Patrol highway account for State Patrol use.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Captain Tim Erickson, Washington State Patrol (pro)

HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):

Whenever real property owned by the state of Washington and under the jurisdiction of the Washington State Patrol (WSP) is no longer required, it may be sold at fair market value.

All proceeds received from the sale of real property under the jurisdiction of the WSP are deposited in the State Patrol highway account of the motor vehicle fund.

If accounts or funds other than the State Patrol highway account are used for the purchase or improvement of the real property, the Office of Financial Management shall determine the proportional equity of each account or fund in the property and improvements, and shall direct the proceeds to be deposited proportionally therein.