SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5060

              As Passed Senate, February 10, 1999

Title:  An act relating to state highway bonds.

Brief Description:  Authorizing state highway bonds.

Sponsors:  Senators Eide, Goings, Haugen, Benton, Gardner, Patterson, West, Brown, Johnson and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/27/99, 2/2/99 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/10/99, 46-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Benton, Costa, Eide, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Oke, Patterson, Prentice, Sellar, Sheahan, T. Sheldon and Shin.

Staff:  Brad Lovaas (786-7307)

Background:  The Special Category AC@ program was established to finance major highway construction projects that could not be accomplished as part of the regular construction program.  The three projects selected at that time were: (1) 1st Avenue South bridge in Seattle; (2) SR 18 from the Black Diamond vicinity to approximately I-90 in southeast King County; and (3) Division/Ruby Street couplet in Spokane and EIS of the North-South Corridor.

In 1990 the Legislature dedicated 3/4 of 1 cent of the motor vehicle fuel tax to the Special Category AC@ program.  In 1993 the Legislature authorized the sale of $240 million of general obligation bonds for the construction of the three projects mentioned above, and pledged 3/4 of 1 cent to debt service.

Summary of Bill:  The bond authorization for the Special Category AC@ program is increased by $90 million, from $240 million to $330 million.  This additional bond authorization is applied to projects in the Special Category AC@ program.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Extra financing is provided for needed Special Category C projects.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Eide, prime sponsor (pro); Amy Arnis, Department of Transportation (pro).