FINAL BILL REPORT

                 EHB 2788

                        C 6  L 00 E2

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Funding transportation projects.

Sponsors:  Representatives Fisher, Mitchell, Radcliff, Scott and Hurst; by request of Transportation Improvement Board.

House Committee on Transportation

Background:

The Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) provides grants for transportation projects in urban areas and rural cities through its transportation improvement account and urban arterial trust account.  These grants, funded by a share of the state gas tax, support projects which relieve congestion caused by economic growth, strengthen structural carrying capacity, improve traffic management, and improve safety conditions.

During the 1993 session, legislation was passed authorizing the issue and sale of $50 million in general obligation bonds in order to meet urgent construction needs of state, county, and city transportation projects within urban areas.  The Transportation Commission, on behalf of the TIB, was authorized to make requests to the State Finance Committee for the issuance, sale, and retirement of the bonds.

The statute was modified in 1994, allowing the TIB to make requests directly to the State Finance Committee to issue, sell, or retire bonds and required the TIB to notify the Transportation Commission of all bond sale requests.

Summary of Bill:

The amount of bonds authorized for issuance is increased from $50 million to $100 million.

 The reporting requirement of notifying the Transportation Commission of bond sale requests is repealed.

Votes on Final Passage:

1st Special Session

House980

2nd Special Session

House980

Senate451

Effective:  July 28, 2000