SENATE BILL REPORT

E2SHB 537

BYHouse Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Schmidt, Zellinsky, Brough, Sayan, Schoon, Meyers, May, P. King and Pruitt)

Restructuring ferry advisory committees.

House Committe on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 18, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Nelson, Vice Chairman; von Reichbauer, Vice Chairman; Barr, Bender, Conner, Garrett, Hansen, Kiskaddon, McMullen, Sellar.

Senate Staff:Brad Lovaas (786-7307)

                  February 19, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 18, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The 1961 Legislature created local Ferry Advisory Committees consisting of five members appointed to four-year terms by the legislative authority of each county served by the Washington State Ferry System.  Each Committee exists to represent the interests and concerns of persons in their area who are frequent users of the ferry system.  Committee members serve without compensation or reimbursement for travel expenses incurred when attending meetings.

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:

This bill changes the area from which most members of the Ferry Advisory Committees are picked.  The San Juan, Clallam and Jefferson committees would still be picked from a countywide area.  The remaining committee members would be picked by terminal area.  Vashon Island will have one committee with its members appointed by the Vashon/Maury Island Community Council.

All members of the terminal-area committees must live in the vicinity of the ferry terminal, and one member must be a representative of an established ferry user group or a frequent user of the ferry system.

Not more than two of any three-member committee shall be from the same political party.  In those counties with more than one terminal, the overall political balance shall be as nearly equal as possible.  Initially, all terms are staggered and are four-year terms thereafter.

The chairperson of each committee shall constitute a newly-created Executive Committee.  The Marine Division is mandated to meet with the executive committee twice a year to review ferry system policies.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

Skagit County is left under current statutory provisions.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Representative Karen Schmidt, P.S.; Jim Sainsbury, Marine Division, DOT (for)