HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1343

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                     Energy & Utilities

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to eliminating the requirement of port districts to file tariffs with the utilities and transportation commission.

Brief Description:  Removing the requirement that a schedule of port rates and charges be filed with the utilities and transportation commission.

Sponsors:  Representatives Casada, Kessler and Basich; by request of Utilities & Transportation Commission.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Energy & Utilities:  2/7/95, 2/8/95 [DP];

Transportation:  2/28/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Casada, Chairman; Crouse, Vice Chairman; Hankins, Vice Chairman; Kessler, Ranking Minority Member; Kremen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler; Huff; Mitchell and Patterson.

Staff:  Margaret Allen (786-7110).

Background:  Since 1955, Washington's port districts have been required to file a schedule of their rates for port activities (wharfage, dockage, warehousing, and port and terminal charges) with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC).  However, the WUTC has no authority to act upon a rate imposed by a port district.  The port's tariffs, generally several pages in length, are simply filed with the WUTC and made available for public viewing. 

There appears to be no public demand for viewing port tariffs, as the WUTC reports no one has asked to see the tariffs in several years.

Summary of Bill:  The requirement that a port district file a schedule of its rates and charges with the WUTC is removed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill is a great piece of regulatory reform.  A port district's schedule of rates and charges also is on file with the Federal Maritime Commission and available for public inspection.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (Pro) Pat Jones, Washington Public Ports Association.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 21 members:  Representatives K. Schmidt, Chairman; Benton, Vice Chairman; Mitchell, Vice Chairman; R. Fisher, Ranking Minority Member; Hatfield, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Blanton; Brown; Cairnes; Elliot; Hankins; Horn; Johnson; Koster; McMahan; Ogden; Quall; Robertson; D. Schmidt; Scott and Tokuda.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee on Transportation Compared to Recommendation of Committee on Energy & Utilities:  No new changes were recommended.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Rates are currently filed with the Maritime Commission and duplication of recordkeeping is unnecessary.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Pat Jones, Washington Public Ports Association (pro); and Paul Curl, Utilities and Transportation Commission (pro).