HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5554

BYSenate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Patterson, Hansen, Madsen and Benitz; by request of Utilities and Transportation Commission)

Providing for testing of railroad track scales.

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Rayburn, Chair; Kremen, Vice Chair; Nealey, Ranking Republican Member; Chandler, Grant, Jesernig, Kirby, McLean, Rasmussen and Youngsman.

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 2, 1990

BACKGROUND:

State law requires all railroads operating in the state to provide suitable facilities for the testing of all track scales.  The Utilities and Transportation Commission may, after providing notice to all railroad companies operating in the state, order that a suitable car, device, or facility be provided by the companies to be used in testing track scales.  The expenses of providing such equipment must be apportioned among the different railroad companies by the commission.  The companies must transport the equipment without charge to the different places designated by the commission for testing purposes.  The equipment may be used in adjoining states to test railroad scales under rules of the commission.  The commission may prescribe a reasonable fee sufficient to recover its expenses in inspecting and testing the scales.

The commission may enforce rules for the weighing of cars and freight offered for shipment over any railroad line and the testing of the weights used in weighing freight on cars.

The director of Agriculture is the state sealer of weights and measures.  The director has general supervision of city sealers and over any weights and measures sold or used in the state.

SUMMARY:

Authorities are transferred to the Department of Agriculture from the Utilities and Transportation Commission: to test railroad track scales; to require companies to provide equipment for the testing of the scales; to authorize the use of the equipment in adjoining states; and to charge reasonable inspection and testing fees.  Suitable facilities for such testing must be provided by all railroad track scale owners.  The cost of the equipment which the department may require companies to provide for such tests must be equitably and reasonably apportioned among all track scale owners benefiting from the equipment.  This equipment may also be used for the testing of scales other than railroad track scales as determined to be appropriate by the department.  Inspection and testing fees collected by the department are to be deposited in the Agricultural Local Fund.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 22, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Alan Scott, Utilities and Transportation Commission; and Stu DeLaney, Department of Agriculture.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The Department of Agriculture tests and certifies for commercial use all scales in the state except these track scales.  The transfer of the authority to test track scales to the department will increase administrative efficiency and eliminate duplication.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.