HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 537

BYRepresentatives Schmidt, Zellinsky, Brough, Sayan, Schoon, Meyers, May, P. King and Pruitt

Creating a single ferry advisory committee.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (24)

     Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Brough, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, Dellwo, Doty, Fisch, Fisher, Gallagher, Hankins, Kremen, Meyers, Prince, C. Smith, D. Sommers, Spanel, Sutherland, Todd, K. Wilson, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:     Do not pass.  (2)

     Signed by Representatives Heavey and Vekich.

House Staff:Louise Bray (786-7322)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION FEBRUARY 26, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Transportation must consult with local community groups when conducting its reviews of ferry tariffs and charges.

Current law provides for the legislative authority of Clallam, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish Counties to each appoint a five-member committee to serve as an advisory committee to the department.  At least one member of each advisory committee must be a representative of an established ferry user group, one representing ferry- dependent business, and one from a local governmental transportation planning body.  In addition, all members must be residents of the county upon whose advisory committee they sit, and not more than three members of any one committee shall at the time of their appointment be members of the same major political party.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  Regional ferry advisory committees are created.  The members of the committee are appointed by the governor.  The membership is to consist of three persons from each of the following terminal areas:  Anacortes, Bremerton, Edmonds, Kingston, Mukilteo, Port Townsend, Seattle, Southworth, Vashon Island, Whidbey Island, and Winslow and five persons from the San Juan Islands as follows:  one each from Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, and San Juan Islands plus one "at-large" member.  The initial terms are staggered and political balance among the members is required.

The committees serve as advisors to the Department of Transportation when it conducts its reviews of ferry tariffs, charges and service levels.  The committees are required to report periodically to the governor and the department on current provisions in law and make specific recommendations by route.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Language is changed to create regional ferry advisory committees whose membership is representative of ferry users by route and is politically balanced.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.