HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2973

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 measuring the performance of the state transportation system.

Brief Description: Concerning performance oversight of the state transportation system.

Sponsors: Representative Orcutt.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 2/8/16, 2/9/16 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Requires the Office of Financial Management (OFM), in consultation with the Washington State Transportation Commission, to establish objectives and performance measures for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and other state transportation agencies.

  • Requires annual state ferry system performance reports to first be prepared by the WSDOT and then reviewed by the OFM and the Joint Transportation Committee, prior to submittal to the Legislature and the Governor.

  • Requires the WSDOT to submit biennial transportation progress attainment reports to the Legislature, after review by the OFM.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 25 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Farrell, Vice Chair; Fey, Vice Chair; Moscoso, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Harmsworth, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Gregerson, Hayes, Hickel, Kochmar, McBride, Moeller, Morris, Ortiz-Self, Pike, Riccelli, Rodne, Rossetti, Sells, Shea, Stambaugh, Tarleton and Young.

Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).

Background:

Between 2007 and 2015, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) was required to establish objectives and performance measures for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and other state transportation agencies, to ensure the transportation system was progressing toward the attainment of the statutory transportation policy goals. In 2015 legislation was enacted requiring the WSDOT, rather than the OFM, to establish the objectives and performance measures.

Between 2011 and 2015, the OFM was required to complete an annual performance report of the state ferry system. In 2015 legislation was enacted requiring the WSDOT, rather than the OFM, to complete the report.

The OFM must submit to the Legislature and the Governor a biennial attainment report measuring the degree to which state transportation programs have progressed toward the attainment of the statutory transportation policy goals.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

The OFM, in consultation with the Washington State Transportation Commission (WSTC), must establish objectives and performance measures for the WSDOT and other state transportation agencies. The OFM must then submit the objectives and performance measures to the Legislature and the WSTC every biennium.

Annual state ferry system performance reports must first be prepared by the WSDOT and then reviewed by the OFM and the Joint Transportation Committee (JTC), prior to submittal to the Legislature and the Governor.

The WSDOT, rather than the OFM, is required to submit biennial transportation progress attainment reports to the Legislature, but only after review by the OFM.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The requirement to submit biennial transportation progress attainment reports is created in a new section, and the report must be prepared and submitted by the WSDOT, rather than the OFM, after review by the OFM.

The annual state ferry system performance reports is required to first be prepared by the WSDOT, rather than OFM, and then reviewed by the OFM, rather than the WSTC, and the JTC, prior to submittal to the Legislature and the Governor.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill is essentially the same as the bill in the Senate, but it requires the members of the WSTC to be involved as well. The commissioners come from all parts of the state and will be able to provide the perspective of their area.

This bill restores the OFM's role in the state's objectives and performance measures and will involve the WSTC too. The WSTC's work under the bill can be integrated into its current work.

The substitute bill will eliminate the fiscal impact of the bill. The consultation between the OFM and the WSTC will occur regardless of the bill.

The state's performance measures are established by the OFM in consultation with the various agencies.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Orcutt, prime sponsor; Paul Parker, Washington State Transportation Commission; and Jay Balabas, Office of Financial Management.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.