HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2193

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Higher Education

Title:  An act relating to the joint center for higher education transportation and parking fees and higher education parking fees.

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:  Representatives Carlson, D. Sommers, Gombosky, Benson and Mielke; by request of Joint Center for Higher Education.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Higher Education:  2/27/97 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives Carlson, Chairman; Radcliff, Vice Chairman; Mason, Ranking Minority Member; Kenney, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Butler; Dunn; O'Brien; Sheahan and Van Luven.

Staff:  Suzi Morrissey (786-7120).

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 shall be 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 of Substitute Bill:  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 shall be heard de novo.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The Spokane Joint Center for Higher Education is not authorized to impose a transportation fee to support transportation-demand management programs intended to reduce the demand for campus parking.  The center is authorized to impose and retain parking fees and adopt rules governing parking and traffic for the facilities and lands operated by the center.  The center may also impose parking fines and adjudicate parking infractions, subject to an appeal process.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 26, 1997.

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

Testimony For:  The Spokane Joint Center for Higher Education falls somewhere between a state agency and an institution of higher education.  This legislation permits the center to have the same parking authority as baccalaureate institutions.  At the Riverside site in Spokane, the center manages college facilities for Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, and the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute. It needs the authority to provide and maintain parking facilities for the universities and the institute.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Terry Novak, Spokane Joint Center for Higher Education.