BILL REQ. #:  H-0608.1 

Prefiled 01/08/09. Read first time 01/12/09.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to the expiration of monetary value of fare media; and amending RCW 47.60.315.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 47.60.315 and 2007 c 512 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The commission shall adopt fares and pricing policies by rule, under chapter 34.05 RCW, according to the following schedule:
     (a) Each year the department shall provide the commission a report of its review of fares and pricing policies, with recommendations for the revision of fares and pricing policies for the ensuing year;
     (b) By September 1st of each year, beginning in 2008, the commission shall adopt by rule fares and pricing policies for the ensuing year.
     (2) The commission may adopt by rule fares that are effective for more or less than one year for the purposes of transitioning to the fare schedule in subsection (1) of this section.
     (3) The commission may increase ferry fares included in the schedule of charges adopted under this section by a percentage that exceeds the fiscal growth factor.
     (4) The chief executive officer of the ferry system may authorize the use of promotional, discounted, and special event fares to the general public and commercial enterprises for the purpose of maximizing capacity use and the revenues collected by the ferry system. The department shall report to the commission a summary of the promotional, discounted, and special event fares offered during each fiscal year and the financial results from these activities.
     (5) Fare revenues and other revenues deposited in the Puget Sound ferry operations account created in RCW 47.60.530 may not be used to support the Puget Sound capital construction account created in RCW 47.60.505, unless the support for capital is separately identified in the fare.
     (6) The commission may not raise fares until the fare rules contain pricing policies developed under RCW 47.60.290, or September 1, 2009, whichever is later.
     (7) The department may not enforce an expiration date on the monetary value of any fare media. Any remaining monetary value on any fare media is eligible for refund or exchange.