SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1866

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Transportation, April 3, 1995

Title:  An act relating to aeronautics.

Brief Description:  Revising certain aeronautics statutes.

Sponsors:  Representatives Elliot, K. Schmidt and Benton.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/22/95, 4/3/95 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Owen, Chair; Fairley, Haugen, Kohl, Morton, Oke, Prentice, Prince, Rasmussen, Schow, Sellar and Wood.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senator Heavey, Vice Chair.

Staff:  Brian McMorrow (786-7304)

Background:  The Aviation Division inspects airports and offers airport operators technical advice on construction, repairs and lighting.  The division also establishes standards for constructing airports and participating in air search and rescue activities and conducting accident investigations.

Summary of Bill:  The Aviation Division is responsible for conducting and managing air search and rescue missions.

A section in statute relating to the Civil Air Patrol and the Department of Transportation's authority to contract with the patrol is repealed.  The repeal does not affect either the patrol's ability to search and rescue or the department's ability to pay the patrol's pilots.

When deciding which structures are safety hazards, the division may consider obstacles near airports and runway departure and approach areas as defined by federal air regulations.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill will put into statute activities that the department has been performing under the auspices of an executive order issued in the 1970s.  It also clarifies the kind of aviation hazards the department may prohibit.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Bill Brubaker, WSDOT Aviation (pro).