SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5291

              As Passed Senate, February 22, 1995

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:  Senators Sheldon and Hochstatter.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/31/95 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/22/95, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

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

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309)

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 Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC).  However, the UTC has no authority to act upon a rate imposed by a port district.  The port's tariff sheets are simply filed with the commission and made available for public viewing. 

This procedure may no longer be in the public interest as there appears to be no public demand for viewing port tariffs.  Additionally, it is an administrative burden for a port to file its schedule of rates and the UTC to store the tariffs.

Summary of Bill:  The requirement that a port district is required to file a schedule for its rates for port activities with the UTC is removed.

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:  Senator Sheldon, prime sponsor; Pat Jones, WA Public Ports Assn. (pro); Tim Sweeney, WUTC (pro).