BILL REQ. #:  H-4690.1 

Read first time 01/30/2006.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to passenger ferry service funding; amending RCW 47.60.645; adding new sections to chapter 47.60 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 47.66 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW to read as follows:
     The legislature finds and declares that there is a compelling need for passenger-only ferry service on Puget Sound. The Bremerton to Seattle, Southworth to Seattle, Vashon to Seattle, and Kingston to Seattle routes are the routes currently in need of funding. As other routes become viable for passenger-only ferry service, funding may be provided to those routes as well.
     It is the intent of the legislature to provide funding to passenger-only ferry systems operated by Washington state ferries or local governments through the sale or disposition of existing Washington state ferries' passenger-only vessels. Until the funds provided by the sale or disposition of these vessels become available, it is the intent of the legislature to fund passenger-only ferry systems from other available funds.

Sec. 2   RCW 47.60.645 and 1995 2nd sp.s. c 14 s 558 are each amended to read as follows:
     There is hereby established in the transportation fund the passenger ferry account. Money in the account shall be used for ((capital improvements for passenger ferry projects including, but not limited to, pedestrian and transit facilities at ferry terminals and passenger-only ferry vessels)) grants for passenger-only ferry systems operated by Washington state ferries and for passenger-only ferry systems operated or contracted for by local governments. Moneys in the account shall be expended with legislative appropriation.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By January 1, 2007, the department shall sell or otherwise dispose of the Washington state ferries Snohomish and Chinook for market value and deposit the proceeds of the sales into the passenger ferry account established under RCW 47.60.645.
     (2) By April 1, 2007, the department shall sell or otherwise dispose of the Washington state ferries Skagit and Kalama for market value and deposit the proceeds of the sale into the passenger ferry account established under RCW 47.60.645.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Passenger-only ferry systems operated or contracted for by local governments on the Bremerton to Seattle, Southworth to Seattle, and Kingston to Seattle routes are eligible for the grants provided in RCW 47.60.645. Passenger-only ferry service provided by Washington state ferries on the Vashon to Seattle route is also eligible for the grants provided in RCW 47.60.645.
     (2) The grants provided in RCW 47.60.645 shall be sufficient to provide a reasonable rate of return and cover any costs of operating the passenger-only ferry system that are not covered by fare or other revenue.
     (3) As a condition of receiving the grants provided in RCW 47.60.645, the passenger-only ferry systems operated or contracted for by local governments shall coordinate their schedules with the schedules of any Washington state ferries' auto ferries operating on the same route so as to complement the auto ferry service rather than compete against it.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The Washington state ferries and any passenger-only ferry systems operated or contracted for by local governments that express interest shall, in good faith, negotiate a mutually agreeable and reasonable agreement regarding the shared use of Washington state ferries' facilities at Southworth and Colman dock by September 1, 2006.
     (2) The Washington state ferries and any passenger-only ferry systems operated or contracted for by local governments that express interest shall, in good faith, negotiate a mutually agreeable and reasonable agreement regarding the shared use of Washington state ferries' maintenance facilities by September 1, 2006.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 47.60 RCW to read as follows:
     The Washington state ferries and the passenger-only ferry systems operated or contracted for by local governments shall, in good faith, negotiate a mutually agreeable and reasonable agreement establishing an apprenticeship program by January 1, 2007. The apprenticeship program shall include a system by which employees involved in the operation of passenger-only ferry systems operated or contracted for by local governments may become employees of Washington state ferries.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   A new section is added to chapter 47.66 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In addition to the grants provided in RCW 47.60.645, the department shall establish a passenger-only ferry grant program subject to availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose.
     (2) In providing grants under this section, the department may enter into multiple-year contracts with a stipulation that allocations for future years are subject to the availability of funding as provided by legislative appropriation.
     (3) Priority shall be given to grant applications that provide continuity of existing passenger-only ferry service and the provision of local or federal matching funds.