FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2882

                                  C 265 L 90

BYRepresentatives R. Fisher and Schmidt

Authorizing the department of transportation to approve emergency contracts.

House Committe on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, the secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) may award emergency contracts without Transportation Commission authorization only when the contract amount is under $100,000.

When the contract amount exceeds $100,000, the Transportation Commission must find that the existing state highway is in jeopardy or is rendered impassible due to accident, natural disaster or other emergency.  If the commission so finds, then it may authorize the DOT to award the contract on the basis of three written bids obtained without publishing a call for bids.

Whenever the commission finds it necessary to protect a highway facility from imminent damage or to perform emergency work to reopen a highway, it may authorize the DOT to contract for that work on a negotiated basis at a rate not to exceed force account rates and for a period not to exceed 30 days.

SUMMARY:

Transportation Commission authorization is no longer required for emergency highway repair work.

The secretary of the Department of Transportation is authorized to make the necessary findings and to award contracts for emergency highway work.  If the contract award exceeds $200,000, the secretary must review the approved contract with the Transportation Commission at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 98   0

      Senate    43     0

EFFECTIVE:June 7, 1990