FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5185

                           C 15 L 99

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Adjusting limits for highway work by state forces.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Benton, T. Sheldon, Finkbeiner, Goings, Gardner, Prentice, Sellar and Winsley).

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committee on Transportation

Background:  State law determines the dollar amount of highway construction work that may be performed by state work forces.

Current state law requires construction activities to be contracted out if the project activity will exceed $30,000.  Project activities less than $30,000 may be contracted or performed by state work forces.

In emergency situations that constitute a danger to the traveling public, state forces may perform work activities that are less than $50,000.

These contracting limits were last adjusted for inflation in 1984.

Summary:  The project limit for activities that may be contracted out or performed by state work forces is increased from $30,000 to $50,000, and is increased to $60,000 on July 1, 2005.  In emergency situations, this limit is increased from $50,000 to $80,000 and is increased to $100,000 on July 1, 2005.

These increases reflect adjustments for inflation.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 45 2

House     91 1

Effective:  July 25, 1999