H-776                _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1194

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Patrick, Heavey, Miller, Baugher, Chandler, Walk, Brough, Kremen, Ballard, Prentice, D. Sommers, Leonard, Smith, Wood, Van Luven, Ferguson, Betrozoff, Cantwell, Fuhrman, Dorn, Bowman, Todd, Pruitt, May, Jones, Beck, K. Wilson, Rasmussen, Crane, Rector and Winsley

Read first time 1/18/89 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to a state commission for efficiency and accountability in transportation; adding a new chapter to Title 47 RCW; making an appropriation; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     (1) A temporary commission to be known as the Washington state commission for efficiency and accountability in transportation is created.  In this chapter it is referred to as "the commission."

          (2) The commission consists of nine members as follows:

          (a) Four members appointed by the governor including but not limited to representatives from private sector business and industry, labor unions, and public interest organizations;

          (b) One representative from each of the four legislative caucuses to be appointed by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives.  At least one member from each house shall serve on the legislative transportation committee;

          (c) The lieutenant governor, who shall be a voting member and serve as the chair of the commission.

          The commission shall select a vice-chair from among its membership.

          (3) Nonlegislative members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses for attending meetings of the commission as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.  Legislative members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses for attending meetings of the commission as provided in RCW 44.04.120.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The commission shall develop recommendations for legislative and executive consideration that will:

          (1) Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of state transportation programs and reduce costs;

          (2) Enhance the accountability and organizational soundness of all transportation modes;

          (3) Encourage better communication between local jurisdictions and the department of transportation in developing engineering plans and subsequent construction projects;

          (4) Encourage private sector support and financial participation in project development and construction of transportation projects;

          (5) Develop long-range goals that reflect changing technology and state-of-the-art advancements in transportation;

          (6) Establish an integrated and balanced multimodal state-wide transportation system to meet the needs of the 21st century; and

          (7) Explore ways to reduce the demand on the transportation system and more effectively use the existing system.

          The commission may study other transportation needs and problems and make further recommendations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     (1) The office of financial management, the legislative transportation committee, and the department of transportation shall provide staff as required by the commission in developing its recommendations.  To the extent permitted by law, all agencies of the state shall cooperate fully with the commission in carrying out its duties under this chapter.

          (2) The commission may receive and expend gifts, grants, and endowments from private sector sources to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The commission may contract for such services as are necessary to supplement the staff as provided in section 3 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     By December 1990 the commission shall submit its preliminary findings and recommendations to the governor, transportation commission, and legislative transportation committee.  A final report shall be submitted by December 1992.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     The chapter expires January 1, 1993.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     Sections 1 through 5 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 47 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8.     The sum of seventy-five thousand dollars or as much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated from the motor vehicle fund to the commission for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, to carry out the provisions of this act.