HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1979
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Transportation
Title: An act relating to extending the expiration of the agency council on coordinated transportation.
Brief Description: Extending the expiration of the agency council on coordinated transportation.
Sponsors: Representatives Billig, Armstrong, Clibborn, Liias and Fitzgibbon.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 2/23/11, 2/24/11 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
|
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION |
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 27 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Billig, Vice Chair; Liias, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Angel, Asay, Eddy, Finn, Fitzgibbon, Jinkins, Johnson, Klippert, Kristiansen, Ladenburg, McCune, Moeller, Moscoso, Overstreet, Reykdal, Rivers, Rolfes, Ryu, Shea, Takko, Upthegrove and Zeiger.
Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).
Background:
The Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation (ACCT) is council of state agencies, transportation providers, consumer advocates, and legislators, which was created in 1998 in order to advance and improve accessibility to and coordination of special needs transportation services statewide. The ACCT is made up of 14 voting members, 11 of whom are appointed by the Governor according to certain statutory prescriptions, with the remaining three consisting of the Superintendant of Public Instruction, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services, or their designees. There are also four non-voting members, one each from the two largest caucuses in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Since enactment, the ACCT has been reauthorized several times. In 2007 the Legislature reauthorized the ACCT until June 30, 2010, and modified and streamlined the ACCT's duties. In 2007 the Legislature also directed the Joint Transportation Committee to study legal and programmatic changes and best practices necessary for providing effective coordination of special needs transportation. That study, finalized in January 2009, resulted in a number of recommendations, including the need to strengthen the ACCT's role as a statewide oversight authority and to establish the necessary infrastructure that responds to local circumstances and needs.
In 2009 the ACCT was reauthorized until June 30, 2011, and all related sections of the Revised Code of Washington until June 30, 2012.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Summary of Substitute Bill:
The termination date for the Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation is extended until June 30, 2013, and the related sections of the Revised Code of Washington until June 30, 2014.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The substitute bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 30, 2011.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on June 30, 2011.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) The Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation (ACCT) has been effective at breaking down the silos in which agencies operate and helping various agencies to effectively coordinate special needs transportation.
The people who depend on public transportation should have a role in the planning and oversight of the system. The ACCT is the only statewide forum that integrates the users into the planning process for the public transportation system, by bringing riders, providers, and agencies together to discuss and resolve issues.
In 2009 the ACCT worked on identifying the issues that remain to be resolved in the area of special needs transportation. There are currently pilot projects working with veterans, adult day health providers, and medicare and medicaid transportation providers. The continuation of the ACCT would allow for the implementation of the lessons learned from these pilot projects.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Billig, prime sponsor; James Morris, Governor's Committee on Disability and Employment; and Don Chartock, Washington State Department of Transportation.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.