SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6627

BYSenators von Reichbauer and McMullen

Removing obsolete provisions of state ferry law.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 23, 1990

Majority Report:     Do pass.

     Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; von Reichbauer, Vice Chairman; Barr, Bender, Benitz, DeJarnatt, Hansen, McMullen, Madsen, Murray, Nelson, Patrick, Sellar.

Senate Staff:Vicki Fabre (786-7313)

                January 24, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JANUARY 23, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Legislative Transportation Committee, as part of its 1989 interim activities, conducted a review of statutes governing the operation of the Washington ferry system.  As a result, legislation was proposed which amends or repeals obsolete operating procedures or provisions.

Under current law, funding for ferry maintenance and operations has been based on the amount of the maintenance and operating deficit for a biennium.  The deficit was calculated by subtracting from the total costs of operating the sum of all unappropriated funds including toll revenues.  However, beginning with the 1987-89 biennium, the ferry system operating budget became subject to the appropriation process, thus making the current statutory budgeting procedure obsolete.

References to ferry union contracts in effect before the Marine Employees Bargaining Act was enacted in 1983, but which have now terminated, are no longer necessary.

Provisions for a Lopez Island-San Juan toll bridge feasibility study and the requirement that the Department of Transportation (DOT) report to the Legislative Transportation Committee (LTC) on the status of the restoration of the Hood Canal bridge are unnecessary as these tasks have been completed.

Any revenues from the ferry system accruing to the Puget Sound ferry operations account (PSFOA) which are not expended at the end of a biennium transfer to the motor vehicle fund (MVF) and must be expended for state highway purposes.  Since the ferry system operating account is now subject to the appropriation process, actual expenditures cannot exceed appropriation authority.

SUMMARY:

The reference to funding state ferry system operation deficits from unappropriated funds and tolls is deleted.

Provisions governing marine employee contracts no longer in effect are removed.

Provisions authorizing the Lopez Island-San Juan toll bridge study are repealed.

Revenues accruing to the Puget Sound ferry operations account (PSFOA) in excess of the appropriation authority at the end of each biennium will remain in the PSFOA and not be transferred for state highway purposes.

Language is repealed which requires the Department of Transportation to report each quarter to the Legislative Transportation Committee on the status of the restoration of the Hood Canal bridge.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    none requested

Senate Committee - Testified:   No one