H-0459.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1023

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Buck, Cooke, Mielke and Cairnes

Read first time 01/13/97.  Referred to Committee on Transportation Policy & Budget.

Clarifying qualifications for commuter ride sharing.

    AN ACT Relating to commuter ride-sharing qualifications; and amending RCW 46.74.010.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 46.74.010 and 1996 c 244 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    The definitions set forth in this section shall apply throughout this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

    (1) "Commuter ride sharing" means a car pool or van pool arrangement whereby ((a)) one or more fixed groups not exceeding fifteen persons each including the drivers, and (a) not fewer than five persons including the drivers, or (b) not fewer than four persons including the drivers where at least two of those persons are confined to wheelchairs when riding, ((is)) are transported in a passenger motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight not exceeding ten thousand pounds, excluding special rider equipment, between their places of abode or termini near such places, and their places of employment or educational or other institutions, each group in a single daily round trip where the drivers ((is)) are also on the way to or from ((his or her)) their places of employment or educational or other institution.

    (2) "Ride sharing for persons with special transportation needs" means an arrangement whereby a group of persons with special transportation needs, and their attendants, is transported by a public social service agency or a private, nonprofit transportation provider as defined in RCW 81.66.010(3) in a passenger motor vehicle as defined by the department to include small buses, cutaways, and modified vans not more than twenty-eight feet long:  PROVIDED, That the driver need not be a person with special transportation needs.

    (3) "Ride-sharing operator" means the person, entity, or concern, not necessarily the driver, responsible for the existence and continuance of commuter ride sharing or ride sharing for persons with special transportation needs.

    (4) "Persons with special transportation needs" means those persons defined in RCW 81.66.010(4).

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