Title: An act relating to fare cards for transportation facilities and services.

Brief Description: Modifying the application of the unclaimed property laws to certain public transportation fare cards.

Sponsors: House Committee on Finance (originally sponsored by Representatives Jarrett and Sells).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/11/05, 93-0.

Committee Activity: Financial Institutions, Housing & Consumer Protection: 3/30/05, 3/31/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, HOUSING & CONSUMER PROTECTION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Fairley, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Benton, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Brandland, Delvin, Franklin, Keiser, Prentice, Schmidt and Spanel.

Staff: Joyce Ahlering (786-7486)

Background: Travelers often purchase automated fare cards to use on public transport facilities. Fare cards simplify payments for use of multiple transit systems and save travel time by eliminating money exchanges on routes.

In addition, Washington State has unclaimed property laws that require businesses to make detailed reports to the Department of Revenue (DOR) on property of value that is unclaimed over a period of time. In some cases, this unclaimed property may include fare cards, creating a regulatory and financial burden for the transit agency that issued the certificate.

Summary of Bill: A public transportation agency may retain funds on abandoned fare cards until the owner of the card claims the value on it.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This bill will ease the administrative burdens placed on transit agencies, making public transport as a whole more user-friendly.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Representative Jarrett, prime sponsor.