SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6078

              As Passed Senate, February 6, 1996

Title:  An act relating to the public presentation of information regarding regional transit authority projects.

Brief Description:  Representing regional transit authority projects.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Heavey, Prince and Owen).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/11/96, 1/24/96 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 2/6/96, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6078 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff:  Gene Baxstrom (786-7303)

Background:  A regional transit authority in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties and transit agencies in Clark, Kitsap, Spokane, Thurston and Yakima counties are authorized to impose voter-approved taxes to develop a high capacity transportation system.

There are numerous preconditions which must be met before these agencies can put a high capacity plan and funding plan on the ballot, including publication of a brochure for distribution to all registered voters describing the system and its relationship to regional issues, such as land use.  In addition, these agencies are also required to publish a voters' pamphlet as is done for general elections.  The brochure prepared by the Regional Transit Authority for the March 1995 election was viewed by many as a promotional piece for the proposal, published with public funds. 

The Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority assumed $2 billion in federal and state funds as part of its funding plan for voter approval.  At that time, only about $300 million in federal funds had been authorized for such a project.

Summary of Bill:  A regional transit authority or transit agencies submitting high capacity transportation funding plans for voter approval are no longer required to publish and distribute a brochure describing the proposal.

In developing financial plans for high capacity transportation projects, regional transit authorities are prohibited from assuming or implying the availability of state funds unless those funds are specifically authorized.  The same prohibition applies in the case of federal funds, unless those funds are based on authorizations in the current six-year transportation authorization law and appropriations based on that authorization.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Repeal of the requirement for a brochure to describe the proposal reduces costs.  Retention of the voters' pamphlet insures voter knowledge of any proposal.  More accurate depiction of the availability of federal and state funds better informs voters.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Paul W. Locke; Chuck Williams, C-TRAN; Jim Metcalf, RTA.

House Amendment(s):  The striking amendment provides that the restrictions on the regional transit authority, as to what it can imply when making public presentations regarding federal and state funds, are applied to all transit agencies proposing to develop high capacity transit.