SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESHB 2080

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                Transportation, April 12, 1995

Title:  An act relating to transportation funding and appropriations.

Brief Description:  Providing transportation funding and appropriations.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives K. Schmidt, Hankins, Benton, Elliot, Skinner, Buck, McMahan, Robertson, Johnson, D. Schmidt, Chandler, Mitchell, Koster, Backlund, Cairnes, Horn, Blanton and Stevens).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  4/12/95 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

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

Staff:  Eugene Schlatter (786-7316)

Background:  The Legislature must make biennial appropriations for each agency's operating budget and capital improvements.  The transportation budget provides funding for the agencies and programs supported by transportation revenues.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The state transportation agencies' Omnibus Capital and Operating Appropriations Act for the 1995-97 fiscal biennium is enacted.  The total appropriation for transportation agencies is $3.134 billion.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  Appropriations are modified.  Technical amendments are made to clarify original intent.  Bonds debt service supported by the transportation fund will not be calculated against the general fund debt service limit.  $700,000 is reappropriated for the RTA.

Appropriation:  $3.134 billion from all transportation fund sources.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and take effect immediately.

Testimony For:  The appropriations reflect the basic requirements for the transportation agencies.

Testimony Against:  Transportation funding continues to be a problem in this state.  Funding is needed for multi-modal transportation solutions.

Testified:  Aubrey Davis, Connie Niva, Pat Patterson, WA State Transportation Commission; Sid Morrison, Secretary, DOT; Robin Pollard, State Tourism; Jim Metcalf, Regional Transit Authority; Joe Daniels, IFPTE-17; Chuck Mize, King County (pro w/concerns); Curt Eschels, WA State Association of Counties (pro w/concerns); Dean Claussen, Eastside Transportation Committee (pro).