Z-0656.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1686
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State of Washington 57th Legislature 2001 Regular Session
By Representatives Fisher, Mitchell and Poulsen; by request of The Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation
Read first time 01/31/2001. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
AN ACT Relating to allocation of new transportation revenues; adding a new section to chapter 46.68 RCW; creating new sections; providing a contingent effective date; and providing for submission of this act to a vote of the people.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that it is in the public interest to ensure an equitable allocation of new transportation revenues among regions of the state. It is further in the public interest to ensure that each area of the state: (1) Has sufficient funds to ensure adequate preservation, safety, and maintenance of existing facilities and services; (2) is assured of receiving back a minimum proportion of revenue that it contributes to overall state transportation revenue collections; and (3) retains all funds generated from locally imposed revenue sources.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.68 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The revenue provided by any newly initiated sources of revenue for state transportation programs, or increased rates for existing revenue sources, provided for after January 1, 2001, must be distributed under this section. For the purposes of this section, "existing revenue sources" means moneys that accrue to the motor vehicle fund from the motor vehicle fuel tax and special fuel tax, combined licensing fees, vehicle license fees, gross weight fees, ferry toll revenues, and truck surcharges.
(a) There must be a statewide distribution among regions of the state to ensure that there are sufficient funds in each region for basic operations, maintenance, preservation, and safety of transportation services including transit, ferry operations, city streets, county roads, and state highways at a minimum level defined by the transportation commission. The commission shall develop this defined minimum level in cooperation with the association of Washington cities and the Washington association of counties.
(b) After the distributions in (a) of this subsection, the funds remaining must be distributed to regions at a minimum return rate of eighty-five percent of the funds generated by each region.
(c) Any funds remaining after the distributions made under (b) of this subsection are an equalization fund and must be used for distributions to regions that are receiving a lesser amount of funds than they generate.
(2) The transportation commission shall work with the association of Washington cities and the Washington association of counties to define transportation regions within the state.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The transportation commission shall submit the minimum level criteria and the definition of regions developed by it under section 2 of this act to the legislature by January 15, 2002.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The secretary of state shall submit this act to the people for their adoption and ratification, or rejection, at the next general election to be held in this state, in accordance with Article II, section 1 of the state Constitution and the laws adopted to facilitate its operation. If approved by a majority of those voting at the November 2001 general election, this act takes effect January 1, 2002.
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