SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 2501

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.

Title: An act relating to allowable uses for the multiuse roadway safety account.

Brief Description: Concerning allowable uses for the multiuse roadway safety account.

Sponsors: Representatives Eslick, Blake, Barkis, Ybarra and Shea.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/18/20, 97-0.

Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/26/20.

Brief Summary of Bill

Increases the purposes for which the Multiuse Roadway Safety Account may be used.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Staff: Kim Johnson (786-7472)

Background: The Multiuse Roadway Safety Account was created in 2013. All receipts from on-road registration fees for wheeled all-terrain vehicles must be deposited into the account. The on-road registration fee for a wheeled all-terrain vehicle is $12. The account is appropriated and may only be used for grants administered by the Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and issued to the following entities for specified purposes:

local governments to erect signs to alert motorists that wheeled all-terrain vehicles may be present on or crossing the roadway;
county governments for safety engineering analysis of mixed vehicle use on any road within the county;
Washington State Patrol or local law enforcement for defraying the cost of any enforcement of the wheeled all-terrain use of public roadways; and
law enforcement to investigate accidents involving wheeled all-terrain vehicles.

According to the Department of Licensing, there were 12,601 wheeled all-terrain vehicles registered for on-road use in 2019. To date, WSDOT reports that the agency has awarded a total of $60,000 since the program's establishment in 2013. The six local governments that have received funding include: Okanogan County, City of Granite Falls, City of Mossyrock, City of Sultan, Lewis County, and Pierce County. The current appropriation for the Multiuse roadway safety account in the 2019-2021 biennium is just over $130,000.

Summary of Bill: Monies in the Multiuse Roadway Safety Account may also be used for grants to:

counties to enhance or maintain any segment of a road within a county that is designated as part of a travel or tourism route for used by wheeled all-terrain vehicles; and
purchase, print, develop, or use educational brochures or mapping technology that aids in the safety and direction of users of wheeled all-terrain vehicle routes.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Sultan was the first city in the state to authorize all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use on its roads and they have been operated safely for some time now. This authorization is very important for recreation purposes and to connect cities in the area.

The House clarified which county roads could be eligible for this money. This bill will help to identify tourism routes, as well as which roads are open to ATV travel and which ones are not.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Carolyn Eslick, Prime Sponsor; Ted Jackson, Washington ATV Association, WATV Access Coalition.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.