HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 2111

                       As Passed House

                        April 7, 1993

Title:  An act relating to transportation appropriations.

Brief Description:  Adopting the supplemental transportation budget.

Sponsors:  Representative R. Fisher; by request of Office of Financial Management.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, March 30, 1993, DPA;

Passed House - Amended, April 7, 1993, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 23 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brough; Brumsickle; Cothern; Eide; Finkbeiner; Forner; Fuhrman; Hansen; Heavey; Horn; J. Kohl; Miller; H. Myers; Quall; Sheldon; Shin; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Robin Rettew (786-7306).

Background:  The Board of Pilotage Commissioners (BPC) has two lawsuits pending relating to the setting of tariffs and pilot discipline.  Although the board is funded by pilot license fees, additional appropriation authority is required in order to make payments on the lawsuits.

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) requested additional appropriation authority to provide for the settlement arising from WSP cadet overtime litigation.

The Department of Licensing (DOL) has been found to be out of compliance with certain Department of Revenue requirements.  Back sales taxes are owed on the contract awarded to Polaroid for driver license photographs.

The DOL was required by the 1992 Legislature (ESHB 2964) to develop a system for specifically registering rental vehicles, but no appropriation authority was provided.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) requested additional appropriation authority (a) to pay for damages to the State Route (SR) 520 floating bridge and for enhanced maintenance of the bridge; (b) for additional snow and ice removal costs incurred; (c) for additional costs incurred at rest areas; and (d) for accelerated road repair work.

Current appropriations to the maintenance, administrative and planning programs of the DOT were reduced by the Office of Financial Management to force the department to absorb additional charges made to the DOT by other agencies.

Summary of Bill:  An additional appropriation authority of $17,000 is provided to the BPC for settlement of pending litigation.

For sales tax owed on the Polaroid contract $149,000 is provided to DOL ; and $394,500 is provided for the system changes required to register rental cars as a unique class of vehicles.

To fund the increased snow and ice requirements of the DOT $3.8 million is provided.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.