SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5035

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Highways & Transportation, February 26, 2003

Title: An act relating to special needs transportation contributions.

Brief Description: Formalizing special needs transportation contributions.

Sponsors: Senators T. Sheldon, McAuliffe, Rasmussen, Fairley, Haugen and Prentice.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 2/18/03, 2/26/03 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5035 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Finkbeiner, Haugen, Jacobsen, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Prentice and Spanel.

Staff: Tami Neilson (786-7452)

Background: In 1998, the Legislature created the Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation (ACCT) to coordinate transportation services for people with special transportation needs. Those persons are defined as people, including their personal attendants, who because of physical or mental disability, income status, or age are unable to transport themselves or purchase transportation.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Applications for annual license tab fees, gross weight fees, and additional fees for recreational vehicles include an opportunity for applicants to contribute funds to assist persons with special transportation needs.

The Department of Licensing will discontinue the contribution program if ACCT no longer exists or if it has stopped providing the services it is authorized to fund with the contributions. The funds are to be used for developing, testing, and facilitating the implementation of efficient coordinated systems to increase transportation services to persons with special needs.

The Washington State Department of Transportation must work with the Internal Revenue Service to achieve tax deductible status for the voluntary contributions. If funding is not provided for this act in the transportation budget, this act is null and void.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The Washington State Department of Transportation must work with the Internal Revenue Service to achieve tax deductible status for the voluntary contributions. If funding is not provided for this act in the transportation budget, this act is null and void.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect with registrations that are due or become due on January 1, 2004.

Testimony For: The money is raised for a worthy cause, and it's an easy way to contribute to special needs transportation. Current funds cannot service all people with disabilities. These funds will help connect people with services.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Senator Tim Sheldon; Bruce Reeves, Senior Citizen's Lobby; Sandy Stutey, King County; Dave O'Connell, Community Transportation Association; Mary Jo Cady, Community Transportation Association, Northwest; Cherie Tessier, citizen; Chris Carnell, citizen; Paula Hammond, WSDOT.