BILL REQ. #:  H-0603.1 

Read first time 01/27/09.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to prioritizing funding for special category C projects; and amending RCW 46.68.090.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.68.090 and 2005 c 314 s 103 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) All moneys that have accrued or may accrue to the motor vehicle fund from the motor vehicle fuel tax and special fuel tax shall be first expended for purposes enumerated in (a) and (b) of this subsection. The remaining net tax amount shall be distributed monthly by the state treasurer in accordance with subsections (2) through (7) of this section.
     (a) For payment of refunds of motor vehicle fuel tax and special fuel tax that has been paid and is refundable as provided by law;
     (b) For payment of amounts to be expended pursuant to appropriations for the administrative expenses of the offices of state treasurer, state auditor, and the department of licensing of the state of Washington in the administration of the motor vehicle fuel tax and the special fuel tax, which sums shall be distributed monthly.
     (2) All of the remaining net tax amount collected under RCW 82.36.025(1) and 82.38.030(1) shall be distributed as set forth in (a) through (j) of this ((section)) subsection.
     (a) For distribution to the motor vehicle fund an amount equal to 44.387 percent to be expended for highway purposes of the state as defined in RCW 46.68.130;
     (b) For distribution to the special category C account, hereby created in the motor vehicle fund, an amount equal to 3.2609 percent to be expended for special category C projects. Special category C projects are category C projects that, due to high cost only, will require bond financing to complete construction.
     ((The following criteria, listed in order of priority, shall be used in determining which special category C projects have the highest priority:
     (i) Accident experience;
     (ii) Fatal accident experience;
     (iii) Capacity to move people and goods safely and at reasonable speeds without undue congestion; and
     (iv) Continuity of development of the highway transportation network.))
     The following projects, listed in order of priority, are eligible for funding from the special category C account:
     (i) State route number 395, north Spokane corridor;
     (ii) State route number 18; and
     (iii) State route number 99, First Avenue South bridge.
     Moneys deposited in the special category C account in the motor vehicle fund may be used only for the projects listed under this subsection (2)(b) and for payment of debt service on bonds the proceeds of which are used to finance special category C projects under this subsection (2)(b);
     (c) For distribution to the Puget Sound ferry operations account in the motor vehicle fund an amount equal to 2.3283 percent;
     (d) For distribution to the Puget Sound capital construction account in the motor vehicle fund an amount equal to 2.3726 percent;
     (e) For distribution to the urban arterial trust account in the motor vehicle fund an amount equal to 7.5597 percent;
     (f) For distribution to the transportation improvement account in the motor vehicle fund an amount equal to 5.6739 percent and expended in accordance with RCW 47.26.086;
     (g) For distribution to the cities and towns from the motor vehicle fund an amount equal to 10.6961 percent in accordance with RCW 46.68.110;
     (h) For distribution to the counties from the motor vehicle fund an amount equal to 19.2287 percent: (i) Out of which there shall be distributed from time to time, as directed by the department of transportation, those sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of RCW 47.56.725; and (ii) less any amounts appropriated to the county road administration board to implement the provisions of RCW 47.56.725(4), with the balance of such county share to be distributed monthly as the same accrues for distribution in accordance with RCW 46.68.120;
     (i) For distribution to the county arterial preservation account, hereby created in the motor vehicle fund an amount equal to 1.9565 percent. These funds shall be distributed by the county road administration board to counties in proportions corresponding to the number of paved arterial lane miles in the unincorporated area of each county and shall be used for improvements to sustain the structural, safety, and operational integrity of county arterials. The county road administration board shall adopt reasonable rules and develop policies to implement this program and to assure that a pavement management system is used;
     (j) For distribution to the rural arterial trust account in the motor vehicle fund an amount equal to 2.5363 percent and expended in accordance with RCW 36.79.020.
     (3) The remaining net tax amount collected under RCW 82.36.025(2) and 82.38.030(2) shall be distributed to the transportation 2003 account (nickel account).
     (4) The remaining net tax amount collected under RCW 82.36.025(3) and 82.38.030(3) shall be distributed as follows:
     (a) 8.3333 percent shall be distributed to the incorporated cities and towns of the state in accordance with RCW 46.68.110;
     (b) 8.3333 percent shall be distributed to counties of the state in accordance with RCW 46.68.120; and
     (c) The remainder shall be distributed to the transportation partnership account created in RCW 46.68.290.
     (5) The remaining net tax amount collected under RCW 82.36.025(4) and 82.38.030(4) shall be distributed as follows:
     (a) 8.3333 percent shall be distributed to the incorporated cities and towns of the state in accordance with RCW 46.68.110;
     (b) 8.3333 percent shall be distributed to counties of the state in accordance with RCW 46.68.120; and
     (c) The remainder shall be distributed to the transportation partnership account created in RCW 46.68.290.
     (6) The remaining net tax amount collected under RCW 82.36.025 (5) and (6) and 82.38.030 (5) and (6) shall be distributed to the transportation partnership account created in RCW 46.68.290.
     (7) Nothing in this section or in RCW 46.68.130 may be construed so as to violate any terms or conditions contained in any highway construction bond issues now or hereafter authorized by statute and whose payment is by such statute pledged to be paid from any excise taxes on motor vehicle fuel and special fuels.