SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESSB 6773

              As Passed Senate, February 15, 2000

Title:  An act relating to county road construction projects.

Brief Description:  Adjusting day labor allowances for county road construction.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen and Bauer).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/7/2000, 2/8/2000 [DPS, DNP].

Passed Senate, 2/15/2000, 45-1.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6773 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Eide, Finkbeiner, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Morton, Oke, Sheahan and Swecker.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senators Benton and Heavey.

Staff:  Michelle Chase (786-7305)

Background:  Current law permits counties to utilize day labor to construct or improve county roads if such costs total no more than the annual limits specified by statute.  These annual limits are either a percentage of the total annual county road construction budget or a specific dollar amount.  The percentage and the dollar amount allowed varies depending on the total annual county road construction budget.

Summary of Bill:  Existing county day labor annual limits are increased for construction or improvement of county roads in counties with population densities of less than 100 persons per square mile and those counties composed entirely of islands by 10 percent.  Budget threshold limits are clarified.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This bill helps counties, particularly smaller counties.

Testimony Against:  This bill will not save money and will hurt private contractors, especially small contractors.  The existing limits were negotiated and changing these limits is not an effective way to save money.

Testified:  Jim Potts, representing rural counties (pro); Robert Dilger, WA State Building and Construction Trades Council (con).