AN ACT Relating to the air transportation commission; adding a new chapter to Title 47 RCW; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that with the increase in air traffic operations, combined with the projections for the rapid expansion of these operations in both the short and the long term, concerns regarding the environmental, health, social, and economic impacts of air traffic are increasing as well. The legislature also finds that advancing Washington's position as a national and international trading leader is dependent upon the development of a highly competitive, state-wide passenger and cargo air transportation system. Therefore, there is an obvious need for improved coordination of local, federal, and state efforts to develop state-wide air transportation policies to promote continued economic development and to mitigate the negative impacts of air traffic on surrounding communities.

The legislature seeks to provide for the comprehensive examination of air transportation issues, taking into consideration the data and conclusions of appropriate air traffic studies, including but not limited to those currently underway by various public ports of Washington, local jurisdictions, the department of transportation, and the Puget Sound Council of Governments.

It is the intent of the legislature to establish an air transportation commission, made up of persons interested in and affected by air transportation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The air transportation commission is created to carry out the functions of this chapter. The commission shall consist of twenty-two voting members.

(2) The governor shall appoint nineteen members to represent the following interests:

(a) Four city representatives, who shall be elected city officials, with at least one from a small city or town affected by air traffic problems and one from a large city that is a member of the regional airport system study;

(b) Four county representatives, who shall be elected county officials, with at least one from a small county affected by air traffic problems, and one from a large county that is a member of the regional airport system study;

(d) Three as representatives from the airline industry;

(e) Two as representatives of the ports, one of whom shall represent a port located in a county of one million population or more;

(f) The governor or a designee;

(g) A representative from the SeaTac noise mediation project;

(h) A representative from an eastern Washington metropolitan planning organization; and

(i) A representative from a western Washington metropolitan planning organization.

(3) The remaining three members shall be:

(a) The secretary of transportation or a designee;

(b) The assistant secretary of the division of aeronautics of the department of transportation; and

(c) The director of the Washington state transportation center created by agreement between the University of Washington, Washington State University, and the department of transportation.

(4) The chair of the legislative transportation committee shall appoint four members of the legislature to serve as nonvoting members of the commission.

(5) The manager of the Seattle airports division, northwest region of the federal aviation administration shall serve as a nonvoting member.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The commission shall conduct studies to determine Washington's long-range air transportation needs and to assess the local impacts of increasing air traffic. The commission shall study intermodal transportation systems between airports and economic and population centers. The commission shall also make recommendations to the legislature on future Washington state air transportation policy, including the expansion of existing and potential air carrier and reliever facilities and the siting of such new facilities, specifically taking into consideration intermodal needs. The commission shall take into account state, local, and regional air transportation planning efforts in development of its recommendations.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The commission may contract with consultants to assist in the study of the air transportation needs of the state and the development of the air transportation policy recommendations. The commission may petition for federal aviation administration matching funds. In seeking such funds the commission shall consult with the department of transportation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The commission shall select a chair from among its membership and shall adopt rules related to its powers and duties under this chapter. Members of the commission shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050, 43.03.060, and 44.04.120, as appropriate. Members appointed by the governor shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.220. Expenses of the commission, including staff support, shall be paid from the transportation fund or the general fund. The commission has all powers necessary to carry out its duties as prescribed by this chapter. The commission shall be dissolved on June 30, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The commission may employ staff as necessary to carry out this chapter. The department of transportation, the legislative transportation committee, and the Washington state transportation center may provide additional staff support for the commission. The legislative transportation committee must approve the commission's budget plan before the commission may spend funds.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The commission shall submit written recommendations relative to the air transportation needs for Washington state to the legislative transportation committee by December 1, 1994, with an interim status report to be presented to the legislative transportation committee in December 1992.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. This chapter shall expire June 30, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Sections 1 through 9 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 47 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.