AN
ACT Relating to barriers to coordinated transportation services; amending RCW
81.66.030; and adding a new chapter to Title 47 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature finds that transportation systems for persons with special needs
are not operated as efficiently as possible. Lack of coordination produces
irrational situations, such as several different vehicles arriving
simultaneously at the same location to pick up several different persons with
special needs. When separate vehicles arrive within minutes of each other to
transport individuals with special needs to similar destinations, resources
are wasted and fewer people are being served. In some cases, programs
established by the legislature to assist persons with special needs can not be
accessed due to these inefficiencies.
It
is the intent of the legislature that public transportation agencies, private
nonprofit transportation providers, and other public agencies sponsoring
programs that require transportation services coordinate those transportation
services. Through coordination of transportation services, programs will
achieve increased efficiencies and will expand services to a greater number of
persons with special needs.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. (1)
The agency council on coordinated transportation is created. The council is
composed of nine voting members and eight nonvoting, legislative members.
(2)
The nine voting members are the superintendent of public instruction or a
designee, the secretary of transportation or a designee, the secretary of the
department of social and health services or a designee, and six members
appointed by the governor as follows:
(a)
One representative from the office of the governor;
(b)
Two persons who are consumers of special needs transportation services;
(c)
One representative from the Washington association of pupil transportation;
(d)
One representative from the Washington state transit association; and
(e)
One of the following:
(i)
A representative from the community transportation association of the
Northwest; or
(ii)
A representative from the community action council association.
(3)
The eight nonvoting members are legislators as follows:
(a)
Four members from the house of representatives, two from each of the two
largest caucuses, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, two
who are members of the house transportation policy and budget committee and two
who are members of the house appropriations committee; and
(b)
Four members from the senate, two from each of the two largest caucuses,
appointed by the president of the senate, two members of the transportation
committee and two members of the ways and means committee.
(4)
Gubernatorial appointees of the council will serve two-year terms. Members may
not receive compensation for their service on the council, but will be
reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing their
duties as members as set forth in RCW 43.03.220.
(5)
The secretary of transportation or a designee shall serve as the chair.
(6)
The department of transportation shall provide necessary staff support for the
council.
(7)
The council may receive gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private
sources that are made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and
benefit of the purposes of the council and spend gifts, grants, or endowments
or income from the public or private sources according to their terms, unless
the receipt of the gifts, grants, or endowments violates RCW 42.17.710.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 3. The
council shall:
(1)
Develop standards and strategies for coordinating special needs transportation;
(2)
Identify and develop, fund as resources are made available, and monitor
coordinated transportation pilot projects;
(3)
Disseminate and encourage the widespread implementation of successful
demonstration projects;
(4)
Identify and address barriers to transportation coordination;
(5)
Recommend to the legislature changes in law to assist coordination of
transportation services;
(6)
Act as an information clearinghouse and advocate for coordinated
transportation;
(7)
Petition the office of financial management to make whatever changes are deemed
necessary to identify transportation costs in all executive agency budgets;
(8)
Report to the legislature by December 1, 1998, on council activities including,
but not limited to, what demonstration projects have been undertaken, how
coordination affected service levels, and whether these efforts produced savings
that allowed expansion of services. Reports must be made once every two years
thereafter, and other times as the council deems necessary.
Sec.
4. RCW
81.66.030 and 1979 c 111 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
The
commission shall regulate every private, nonprofit transportation provider in
this state but has authority only as follows: To issue certificates to such
providers; to set forth insurance requirements; to adopt reasonable rules to
insure that any vehicles used by such providers will be adequate for the
proposed service; and to inspect the vehicles and otherwise regulate the
safety of operations of each provider((; and to regulate in accordance with
the procedures set forth in chapter 81.04 RCW any rates, fares, or charges
proposed by such providers)). The commission may charge fees to private,
nonprofit transportation providers, which shall be approximately the same as
the reasonable cost of regulating such providers.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5.
Sections 1 through 3, 6, and 7 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 47
RCW.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 6. The
agency council on coordinated transportation is terminated on June 30, 2003, as
provided in section 7 of this act.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 7. The
following acts or parts of acts, as now existing or hereafter amended, are each
repealed, effective June 30, 2004:
(1) RCW
47.--.--- and 1998 c . . . s 1 (section 1 of this act);
(2) RCW
47.--.--- and 1998 c . . . s 2 (section 2 of this act); and
(3) RCW
47.--.--- and 1998 c . . . s 3 (section 3 of this act).
