H-2539

AN ACT Relating to barriers to coordinated transportation services; amending RCW 81.66.030; and adding a new chapter to Title 47 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that transportation systems for persons with special needs are not operated as efficiently as possible. Lack of coordination produces irrational situations, such as several different vehicles arriving simultaneously at the same location to pick up several different persons with special needs. When separate vehicles arrive within minutes of each other to transport individuals with special needs to similar destinations, resources are wasted and fewer people are being served. In some cases, programs established by the legislature to assist persons with special needs can not be accessed due to these inefficiencies.

It is the intent of the legislature to encourage coordination between public transportation agencies, private nonprofit transportation providers, and other public agencies sponsoring programs requiring transportation services. Through coordination of transportation services, programs will achieve increased efficiencies and will expand services to a greater number of persons with special needs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The agency council on coordinated transportation is created. The council is composed of nine voting members and eight nonvoting, legislative members.

(2) The nine voting members are the superintendent of public instruction or a designee, the secretary of transportation or a designee, the secretary of the department of social and health services or a designee, and six members appointed by the governor as follows:

(a) One representative from the office of the governor;

(b) Two persons who are consumers of special needs transportation services;

(d) One representative from the Washington state transit association; and

(e) One of the following:

(i) A representative from the community transportation association of the Northwest; or

(ii) A representative from the community action council association.

(3) The eight nonvoting members are legislators as follows:

(a) Four members from the house of representatives, two from each of the two largest caucuses, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, two who are members of the house transportation policy and budget committee and two who are members of the house appropriations committee; and

(b) Four members from the senate, two from each of the two largest caucuses, appointed by the president of the senate, two members of the transportation committee and two members of the ways and means committee.

(4) Gubernatorial appointees of the council will serve two-year terms. Members may not receive compensation for their service on the council, but will be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties as members as set forth in RCW 43.03.220.

(5) The secretary of transportation or a designee shall serve as the chair.

(6) The department of transportation shall provide necessary staff support for the council.

(7) The council may receive gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private sources that are made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the council and spend gifts, grants, or endowments or income from the public or private sources according to their terms, unless the receipt of the gifts, grants, or endowments violates RCW 42.17.710.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The council shall:

(1) Develop standards and strategies for coordinating special needs transportation;

(2) Identify and develop, fund as resources are made available, and monitor coordinated transportation pilot projects;

(3) Disseminate and encourage the widespread implementation of successful demonstration projects;

(4) Identify and address barriers to transportation coordination;

(5) Recommend to the legislature changes in law to assist coordination of transportation services;

(6) Act as an information clearinghouse and advocate for coordinated transportation;

(7) Petition the office of financial management to make whatever changes are deemed necessary to identify transportation costs in all executive agency budgets;

(8) Report to the legislature by December 1, 1998, on council activities including, but not limited to, what demonstration projects have been undertaken, how coordination affected service levels, and whether these efforts produced savings that allowed expansion of services. Reports must be made once every two years thereafter, and other times as the council deems necessary.

Sec. 4. RCW 81.66.030 and 1979 c 111 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

The commission shall regulate every private, nonprofit transportation provider in this state but has authority only as follows: To issue certificates to such providers; to set forth insurance requirements; to adopt reasonable rules to insure that any vehicles used by such providers will be adequate for the proposed service; and to inspect the vehicles and otherwise regulate the safety of operations of each provider((~~; and to regulate in accordance with the procedures set forth in chapter 81.04 RCW any rates, fares, or charges proposed by such providers~~)). The commission may charge fees to private, nonprofit transportation providers, which shall be approximately the same as the reasonable cost of regulating such providers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 1 through 3, 6, and 7 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 47 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The agency council on coordinated transportation is terminated on June 30, 2003, as provided in section 7 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The following acts or parts of acts, as now existing or hereafter amended, are each repealed, effective June 30, 2004:

(1) RCW 47.--.--- and 1997 c . . . s 1 (section 1 of this act);

(2) RCW 47.--.--- and 1997 c . . . s 2 (section 2 of this act); and

(3) RCW 47.--.--- and 1997 c . . . s 3 (section 3 of this act).