SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2725

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.

Background: The Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation (ACCT) is a 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 council 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 the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and the Director of the Health Care Authority or their designees. There are also four nonvoting members, one each from the two largest caucuses in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

ACCT termination statute was effective June 30, 2011, and all other ACCT-related statutes are set to be repealed on June 30, 2012.

Summary of Bill: The voting membership of ACCT is expanded by two members: (1) a representative from a tribal government; and (2) a representative from the Department of Social and Health Services. ACCT is also allowed to add nonvoting members as determined by ACCT. The support provided to ACCT by WSDOT is limited to the amount that resources allow. The focus of ACCT is directed to the projects on which members of ACCT are willing to donate time, with an emphasis on coordinated human services transportation, cost and ride sharing, performance measures, mobility management and addressing underserved populations.

The termination date for ACCT is eliminated. The section that repeals all of ACCT statutes is limited solely to: (1) the requirements for local coordinating coalitions; and (2) a workgroup that completed its report in 2009.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: ACCT makes transportation efficient and accessible. There are no dedicated funds for this purpose. This is an efficiency bill. An amendment that prevents the repeal of local coordinating coalitions would improve this bill. WSDOT supports this bill. In 2011 ACCT lost its budget appropriation and half of its enabling legislation. Financial support will come from federal funds and member agencies.