AN ACT Relating to the air transportation commission; adding a new chapter to Title 47 RCW; providing an expiration date; providing an effective 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 needs, combined with the projections for the rapid expansion of these needs 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 air transportation system. Therefore, there is an obvious need for improved coordination of local, federal, and state efforts to develop a state-wide air transportation plan 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 air traffic studies conducted in our region since 1986, and including 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. 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 also make recommendations to the legislature on future Washington state air transportation policy including the expansion of existing facilities and the siting of new facilities, the assessment and mitigation of the environmental, health, and social impacts of air traffic, and the development of a state-wide air transportation plan.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The air transportation commission is created to carry out the functions of this chapter. The commission shall consist of twenty-six voting members, appointed by the governor to represent the following interests:

(1) 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;

(2) 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;

(3) Two citizens to represent the private sector, with one from western Washington and one from eastern Washington;

(4) Two citizens from organized groups dealing with local air transportation impacts, with one from eastern Washington and one from western Washington;

(5) Two as representatives from the air industry;

(6) Two as representatives of the ports;

(7) The secretary of transportation or a designee;

(8) One additional representative of the department of transportation;

(9) The director of trade and economic development or a designee;

(10) The director of community development or a designee;

(11) The director of ecology or a designee;

(12) A representative of the governor's staff;

(13) A representative from the federal aviation administration;

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

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

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

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. 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 plan, using federal aviation administration matching funds.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. 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 aeronautics account. 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. 5. The commission may employ staff as necessary to carry out this chapter. The department of transportation 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. 6. 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 report in December 1992, recommending items that need to be addressed more quickly.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. 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. 8. This chapter shall expire June 30, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. Sections 1 through 8 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 47 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. 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 June 1, 1990.