HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1802

             As Reported By House Committee On:

               Transportation Policy & Budget

Title:  An act relating to requiring auto transportation companies to file reports once per year.

Brief Description:  Requiring auto transport companies to report revenues to the UTC on a yearly basis.

Sponsors:  Representatives Hankins, Fisher and Mitchell; by request of Utilities & Transportation Commission.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation Policy & Budget:  2/24/97 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION POLICY & BUDGET

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 22 members:  Representatives K. Schmidt, Chairman; Hankins, Vice Chairman; Mielke, Vice Chairman; Mitchell, Vice Chairman; Fisher, Ranking Minority Member; Blalock, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cooper, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Buck; Cairnes; Chandler; Constantine; DeBolt; Hatfield; Johnson; Murray; Radcliff; Robertson; Romero; Scott; Sterk and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309).

Background:  Auto transportation companies (for-hire buses that operate on a regular route/schedule and airporters), household goods movers (moving and storage companies), solid waste disposal and recycling companies, and steamboat companies (for-hire private ferries) are regulated by the Utilities & Transportation Commission (UTC) with regard to entry, rates, routes, safety and insurance.  All carriers pay a regulatory fee that is based upon the company's intrastate gross operating revenues.

Auto transportation companies are required to pay quarterly,  a regulatory fee of two-fifths of 1 percent of the company's intrastate gross operating revenues.  At the same time, the UTC collects a vehicle license fee based on intrastate mileage that is deposited in the motor vehicle fund:  (1) the fee for buses propelled by gasoline is 15 cents per 100 miles traveled; and (2) the fee for buses using diesel, natural gas, other special fuels, electricity, or steam is 20 cents per 100 miles traveled. All other regulated carriers pay the regulatory fee annually.

Summary of Bill:  The UTC annual regulatory fee and the vehicle license intrastate mileage fee for auto transportation companies are collected annually by the commission.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This action cuts down on the paperwork required of auto transportation companies and makes the reporting requirements the same as other regulated industries.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Teresa Osinski, Utilities & Transportation Commission.