S-1858.1                   _______________________________________________

                                                     SENATE BILL 5918

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Senators Drew, Sellar, Vognild, Bluechel and Winsley

Read first time 02/25/93.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Allowing ride-sharing incentives to include cars.

          AN ACT Relating to ride-sharing vehicles; amending RCW 82.08.0287, 82.12.0282, and 82.44.015; adding a new section to chapter 82.04 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  Transportation demand strategies that reduce the number of vehicles on Washington state's highways, roads, and streets, and provide attractive and effective alternatives to single-occupancy travel can improve ambient air quality, conserve fossil fuels, and forestall the need for capital improvements to the state's transportation system.  The legislature has required many public and private employers in the state's largest counties to implement transportation demand management programs to reduce the number of single-occupant vehicle travelers during the morning and evening rush hours.  The legislature finds that additional transportation demand management strategies are necessary to mitigate the adverse social, environmental, and economic effects of automobile dependency and traffic congestion.  While expensive capital improvements, including dedicated busways and commuter rail systems, may be necessary to improve the region's mobility, they are only part of the solution.  All public and private entities that attract single-occupant vehicle drivers must develop imaginative and cost-effective ways to encourage walking, bicycling, carpooling, vanpooling, bus riding, and telecommuting.  It is the intent of the legislature to revise those portions of state law that inhibit the application of imaginative solutions to the state's transportation mobility problems and to encourage many more public and private employers to adopt effective transportation demand management strategies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 82.04 RCW to read as follows:

          In computing tax there may be deducted from the measure of tax amounts of up to sixty dollars per employee of moneys paid by the employer to employees as incentives to participate in transportation demand management programs under chapter 70.94 RCW.

        Sec. 3.  RCW 82.08.0287 and 1980 c 166 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

          The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply to sales of vans and cars which are to be used regularly as ride-sharing vehicles, as defined in RCW 46.74.010(3), by not less than ((seven)) two persons, including passenger((s)) and driver.

        Sec. 4.  RCW 82.12.0282 and 1980 c 166 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

          The tax imposed by this chapter shall not apply with respect to the use of vans and cars used regularly as ride-sharing vehicles, as defined in RCW 46.74.010(3), by not less than ((seven)) two persons, including passenger((s)) and driver, if the vans and cars are exempt under RCW 82.44.015 for thirty-six consecutive months beginning within thirty days of application for exemption under this section.

        Sec. 5.  RCW 82.44.015 and 1982 c 142 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

          For the purposes of this chapter, in addition to the exclusions under RCW 82.44.010, "motor vehicle" shall not include:  (1) Vans and cars used regularly as ride-sharing vehicles, as defined in RCW 46.74.010(3), by not fewer than ((seven)) two persons, including passenger((s)) and driver((, or not fewer than five persons including the driver, when at least three of those persons are confined to wheelchairs when riding)); or (2) vehicles with a seating capacity greater than fifteen persons which otherwise qualify as ride-sharing vehicles under RCW 46.74.010(3) used exclusively for ride sharing  for the elderly or the handicapped by not fewer than seven persons, including driver.  The registered owner of one of these vehicles shall notify the department of licensing upon termination of regular use of the vehicle as a ride-sharing vehicle and shall be liable for the tax imposed by this chapter, prorated on the remaining months for which the vehicle is licensed.

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