SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6700

As Passed Senate, February 16, 2004

Title: An act relating to technical corrections to the requirements of regional transportation investment district ballot measures.

Brief Description: Making technical corrections to the requirements of regional transportation investment district ballot measures.

Sponsors: Senators Jacobsen, Horn, Haugen and Shin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 2/9/04 [DP].

Passed Senate: 2/16/04, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Haugen, Jacobsen, Kastama, Murray, Oke and Spanel.

Staff: Kelly Simpson (786-7403)

Background: In 2002, the Legislature permitted certain counties to establish regional transportation investment districts (RTIDs) for the purpose of financing significant regional transportation improvement projects. The law requires an RTID planning committee to adopt a regional transportation investment plan that proposes the creation of a district, lists recommended transportation projects, and recommends sources of revenue to finance the plan. Once adopted, the plan must be forwarded to the participating county legislative authorities to initiate an election process for the district's voters to either approve, or disapprove, the plan.

The law has specific requirements regarding the administration of the election process. The participating counties choosing to submit the plan to its voters may "certify the plan to the ballot," including the proposed tax options. The participating counties may draft a ballot title, give the required notice to the public, and perform other duties required to "put the plan before" the voters as a single ballot measure that both approves formation of the district and approves the plan.

Summary of Bill: The law regarding the election process for RTID plans is clarified, specifically regarding the submission of a single ballot measure. Instead of permitting the RTID counties to "certify the plan to the ballot" and "put the plan before" the voters, the counties may submit to the voters a single ballot measure that (1) approves formation of the district, (2) approves the regional transportation investment plan, and (3) approves the revenue sources to finance the plan. Additionally, the RTID planning committee may draft the ballot measure on behalf of the participating counties.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill is necessary to ensure that a clear and concise ballot measure is submitted to the regional transportation investment district (RTID) voters. Additionally, a request is made to exempt RTID ballot measures from the current requirement that ballot titles for local measures contain no more than 75 words.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Gary Nelson, Regional Transportation Investment District (pro).