H-1543.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2103

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Representatives Cooper, Ericksen, Poulsen, Haigh, Marine, Rockefeller, Jackley, Linville, Quall, Morris, Delvin and McDermott

Read first time 02/14/2001.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Expanding sales methods for ferry tickets.

    AN ACT Relating to sale of ferry tickets and medium; adding a new section to chapter 47.60 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature intends to enable the Washington state ferry system to authorize other entities to sell tickets and medium for passage on Washington state ferries.  This will increase convenience for customers and help reduce congestion at ferry ticket booths.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The department may enter into contracts with private vendors to sell ferry tickets and medium at locations other than Washington state ferry terminals or facilities.  The department may enter into the contracts only:

    (a) With private vendors that are already established businesses offering goods for sale to the general public; and

    (b) If it determines that the vendor's established location has the potential to serve a significant percentage of the customers using a particular ferry route.

    (2) The department may adopt necessary rules and procedures to allow the use of credit and debit cards to purchase ferry tickets or medium from a private vendor who has contracted with the department to sell ferry tickets or medium.  The department may establish a convenience fee to be paid by the credit or debit card user whenever a credit or debit card is chosen as the payment method.  The convenience fee must be sufficient to offset the charges imposed on the department by the credit and debit card companies.  In no event may the use of credit or debit cards authorized by this section create a loss of revenue to the state.  The use of a personal credit card does not rely upon the credit of the state as prohibited by Article VIII, section 5 of the state Constitution.

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