HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2169

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to regional transit authority board appointments.

Brief Description:  Establishing board membership criteria for regional transit authorities.

Sponsors:  Representatives R. Fisher and Heavey.

Brief History:

Reported by House Committee on:

Transportation, January 19, 1994, DP;

  Passed House, February 4, 1994, 92-0;

  Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 22 members:  Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Jones, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Mielke, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Brough; Brumsickle; Eide; Hansen; Heavey; Horn; Johanson; J. Kohl; R. Meyers; Orr; Patterson; Quall; Romero; Sheldon; Wood; and Zellinsky.

Staff:  Gene Baxstrom (786-7303).

Background:  The King, Pierce and Snohomish county councils voted in 1993 to establish the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (RTA).  The establishment of such an authority within the area was authorized by Chapter 101, Laws of 1992, requiring the approval of the county councils of at least two contiguous counties.  The RTA is vested with high capacity transportation system development in the region, including imposition of voter-approved taxes for development and operation of high capacity transportation systems.

The 18-member authority is made up of the secretary of transportation and representatives from each county, appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the county legislative authority.  Initial membership on the RTA is based on one member for each 145,000 population within the county: 10 members from King County, four from Pierce County, and three from Snohomish County.  County-appointed members must be mayors, city council members, or members of the county legislative authority from jurisdictions within the authority boundaries.  Exercising a provision in law, the local-elected officials granted the secretary of transportation voting status.  Authority by-laws provide that proxy votes on the authority are not permitted.

Summary of Bill:  County executives from counties within regional transit authority (RTA) boundaries are made eligible to be appointed as members of an RTA.

Language is added providing that only board members, not including alternates or designees, may cast votes on the authority.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Executives of counties within the RTA       would be eligible to serve on the authority.  The size of the authority would not be expanded, nor would current RTA members be displaced.  Executives would simply be eligible for appointment when vacancies occur.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Ron Main, King County; and Jim Metcalf, Regional Transit Authority.