SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5733
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Transportation, March 7, 2001
Title: An act relating to county road construction projects.
Brief Description: Adjusting day labor allowances for county road construction.
Sponsors: Senators Haugen, Morton and Rasmussen.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/21/01, 3/7/01 [DPS].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5733 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Eide, Horn, Kastama, Oke, Patterson, Prentice, T. Sheldon, Shin and Swecker.
Staff: Dean Carlson (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 Substitute Bill: Existing county day labor annual limits may be increased by 10 percent for construction or improvement of county roads in counties with a population of less than 50,000 people. Budget threshold limits are clarified.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute changes the affected counties from those that have less than 100 persons per square mile and those comprised of islands to counties with a population of less than 50,000.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This bill expands by 10 percent what counties already do and is not a major change. These counties need more flexibility on the use of their money.
Testimony Against: This bill puts counties in competition with private companies. It increases their allowances up to 67 percent. $20 million in jobs would not be contracted out. This is a real problem and would like to address these concerns with smaller counties and seek a creative approach to a solution. Private companies have the necessary expertise to perform these jobs.
Testified: Michael Shaw, Washington State Association of Counties (pro); Rick Slunaker, Associated General Contractors (con); Larry Stevens, National Electrical Contractors Association (con); Michael Transue, Utility Contractors Association of Washington (con).