FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 2193

                         C 273 L 97

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Allowing the joint center for higher education transportation fees and excluding higher education and the joint center for higher education from the state agency parking account.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by  Representatives Carlson, D. Sommers, Gombosky, Benson and Mielke; by request of Joint Center for Higher Education).

House Committee on Higher Education

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:  Public colleges and universities may collect and retain parking fees from employees, students, and members of the public.  Public baccalaureate institutions have specific authorization to adopt rules governing parking and traffic upon land and facilities under their control.  The baccalaureate institutions may adjudicate parking infractions and collect and retain any parking fines.  Anyone who wishes to challenge a parking fine levied by the institution may appeal the decision in district court.  The appeal is heard de novo.

There is an account in the state treasury called the state agency parking account.  State agencies must deposit all income from parking fees into the account.  Institutions of higher education are exempt from this requirement.

Summary:  The governing board of the Spokane Joint Center for Higher Education may adopt rules governing parking and traffic on the center=s lands and facilities.  The board may establish, collect, and retain parking fees, adjudicate parking infractions, and collect and retain parking fines.  Anyone who wishes to challenge a parking fine levied by the board may appeal the decision in a district court in Spokane County.  The appeal is to be heard de novo.

The board may impose a voluntary or mandatory transportation fee on faculty and staff working at the Riverpoint Higher Education Park and on students attending classes there.  Any fee must be used to support transportation demand management programs that reduce the demand for parking and promote alternatives to single-occupant vehicles.  If a mandatory fee is charged to students, a fee of at least that amount must be charged to faculty and staff.  The maximum fee is described.  The board cannot impose a transportation fee on any student who is already paying a transportation fee to the institution of higher education where the student is enrolled.

Parking fees collected by the Spokane Joint Center will not be deposited in the state agency parking account.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  96 0

Senate 46 0 (Senate amended)

House  96 0 (House concurred)

Effective:July 27,  1997