BILL REQ. #:  S-5039.1 

Read first time 02/06/08.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to helicopter access for emergencies; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The aviation division of the department of transportation, in partnership with the state military department, the city of Seattle, King county, and the Washington state patrol, shall form a committee comprised of at least one and no more than three representatives from each entity to study the adequacy of the infrastructure in downtown Seattle to support helicopter access to downtown Seattle. The study must examine the need for helicopter access to downtown Seattle during a major emergency, the ability to support that need, how Seattle compares with other major cities in its ability to accommodate helicopters, and make recommendations for improvements, with particular emphasis on the city's ability to perform air evacuations in emergencies. The committee shall report its findings to the joint transportation committee by January 1, 2009.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2009, from the multimodal transportation account to the department of transportation for the purposes of this act.