SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6307

              As Passed Senate, February 9, 2000

Title:  An act relating to county roads that cross county boundaries.

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to county roads that cross county boundaries.

Sponsors:  Senators Morton, Haugen, Honeyford, T. Sheldon, Gardner, Sellar and Hochstatter.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/20/2000, 1/27/2000 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/9/2000, 46-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Benton, Costa, Eide, Heavey, Jacobsen, Johnson, Morton, Oke, Sellar, T. Sheldon, Shin and Swecker.

Staff:  Jennifer Ziegler (786-7316)

Background:  Washington law allows the board of any county to construct, maintain, and operate any county road which forms the boundary line between the county and another county in any other state if the road crosses and recrosses the county=s boundary.

The board of a county may spend funds from the county road fund to construct, repair, or maintain a portion of a road outside the county if the county road recrosses the boundary of the county and again enters the county.

Summary of Bill:  A county board may spend county road funds to operate a county road that crosses the boundary of the county.  The requirement that the road recross the boundary of the county is removed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  County roads that extend a short distance into other states are not always maintained by the neighboring state.  The lack of maintenance causes damage to cars driven by Washington citizens.  Often the road is primarily used by Washington citizens.  This bill assists counties in providing safety and mobility to Washington citizens.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Morton, prime sponsor; Karen Pendleton, Washington Association of Counties/Washington Association of County Engineers.