H-4253.2  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2866

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Fisher and Mitchell)

Read first time 02/07/2000.  Referred to Committee on .

Creating the joint task force on ferries.

    AN ACT Relating to operation of ferries in Washington state; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) The joint task force on ferries is created, to be composed of:

    (a) Eight members of the legislature selected as follows:

    (i) Four members of the senate, two from each of the major caucuses, to be appointed by the president of the senate;

    (ii) Four members of the house of representatives, two from each of the major caucuses, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

    (iii) The members appointed from each major caucus of the senate and the house of representatives must include one member from a legislative district that encompasses a terminus of a Washington state ferry route and one from a legislative district that does not include a terminus of a Washington state ferry route;

    (b) At least one person designated by the cochairs representing each of the following:

    (i) Ferry advisory committees;

    (ii) Persons who do not use ferries;

    (iii) Labor organizations representing ferry workers;

    (iv) Washington State Ferries;

    (v) Transit operators;

    (vi) The office of financial management; and

    (vii) Other groups as deemed appropriate by the cochairs of the task force.

    (2) The transportation committees shall provide staff support as mutually agreed by the cochairs of the joint select committee.  The speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall designate the cochairs.

    (3) The legislative transportation committee shall pay the expenses of the legislative committee members.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The joint task force on ferries shall report to the full legislature at the beginning of the 2001 legislative session.  The report must include, but not be limited to, analysis and recommendations on the following:

    (1) Establishment of a long-term goal for a target for recovery of operating costs from fare revenue that recognizes that the operation of the ferries is the proprietary provision of a service for a fee;

    (2) Options for further cuts in ferry service or full or partial restoration of ferry service cuts;

    (3) Feasibility of full or partial privatization of the ferry system, public-private partnerships, or state and local partnerships; and

    (4) Establishing the short-term and long-term capital needs of the Washington state ferry system, recognizing that the ferry system is part of the state's highway system and that it is appropriate that the public pay for the capital needs of the ferry system as an extension of the land-based highway system.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

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