HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2281

             As Reported By House Committee On:

               Transportation Policy & Budget

Title:  An act relating to transportation funding and appropriations.

Brief Description:  Funding transportation.

Sponsors:  Representatives K. Schmidt, Hankins, Mitchell, Skinner, Robertson, Radcliff, Fisher, Backlund, Cooper, Chandler, Cairnes, Blalock, Buck, Scott, Johnson, Murray, Mielke, Hatfield, D. Schmidt, Wensman, Bush, McMorris, Thompson, Gardner and Wood.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation Policy & Budget:  4/15/97 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION POLICY & BUDGET

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 25 members:  Representatives K. Schmidt, Chairman; Hankins, Vice Chairman; Mielke, Vice Chairman; Mitchell, Vice Chairman; Fisher, Ranking Minority Member; Cooper, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Buck; Cairnes; Chandler; DeBolt; Gardner; Hatfield; Johnson; Murray; O'Brien; Ogden; Radcliff; Robertson; Romero; Scott; Skinner; Sterk; Wood and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Blalock, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; and Constantine.

Staff:  Brad Lovaas (786-7307).

Background:  Appropriation authority is required for the expenditure of state funds.  State government operates on the basis of a fiscal biennium that begins on July 1 of each odd-numbered year.  A biennial transportation budget was enacted in the 1995 session to fund transportation agencies and programs from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1997.  A supplemental transportation budget was enacted in the 1996 session.

The 1995-97 transportation budget totals $3.288 billion of appropriations from over 30 different funds and accounts.  The original 1995-97 transportation budget totaled $3.117 billion, and the 1996 supplemental budget added $171 million.

Two-thirds of the moneys appropriated in the transportation budget are for capital programs, and one-third is for operating programs of the transportation agencies.

The motor vehicle fund is the primary funding source of transportation programs, providing for 45 percent, or $1.4 billion, of transportation appropriations in the 1995-97 transportation budget.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The following appropriations are made to the Department of Transportation (DOT):  $25.1 million of federal funding for floods; $4 million additional snow and ice funding (includes $2.0 million that was placed in snow and ice reserve in the 1996 supplemental budget); $1.1 million of federal funding for railroad crossing projects; $700,000 of federal funding for King Street Station design work; $500,000 for additional ferry tort claim payments; and $250,000 for Washington State=s share of Wahkiakum ferry costs.

The Department of Licensing (DOL) is appropriated $250,000 for manual processing of accident reports due to a delay in implementing the CRASH project.

The Legislative Transportation Committee (LTC) is appropriated $1,500,000 for performance audits of transportation programs within the DOT, DOL and the Washington State Patrol (WSP).  The performance audits will be conducted by independent evaluators.  The LTC will oversee the performance audits utilizing a temporary advisory committee.  The programs that will be focused on will include the DOT=s highway and ferry systems, DOL=s vehicle and driver licensing functions, and the WSP law enforcement operations and communications systems.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Public bid contracting procedures and federal auditing standards are added to the provisions of audits of DOT, WSP and DOL programs.  The LTC will consult with the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee and the state auditor in conducting audits.

Appropriation:  $33,786,000

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  None.