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                          HOUSE BILL 1320

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

By Representatives Fisher, Ericksen, K. Schmidt, Cooper, Romero, O'Brien, Haigh, Ogden, Veloria, Wood, McIntire, Murray and Ruderman; by request of Department of Transportation

Read first time 01/21/1999.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Developing intercity passenger rail service.

    AN ACT Relating to intercity passenger rail service; adding new sections to chapter 47.79 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 47.79 RCW to read as follows:

    Subject to appropriation, the department is authorized to acquire by purchase, lease, condemnation, gift, devise, bequest, grant, or exchange, title to or any interests or rights in real property adjacent to or used in association with state intercity passenger rail service which may include, but are not limited to, depots, platforms, parking areas, and maintenance facilities.  The department is authorized to contract with a public or private entity for the operation, maintenance, and/or management of these facilities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 47.79 RCW to read as follows:

    Subject to appropriation, the department is authorized to accept and expend or use gifts, grants, and donations for the benefit of any depot, platform, parking area, maintenance facility, or other associated rail facility.  However, such an expenditure shall be for the public benefit of the state's intercity passenger rail service.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 47.79 RCW to read as follows:

    Subject to appropriation, the department is authorized to exercise all the powers and perform all the duties necessary, convenient, or incidental to the planning, designing, constructing, improving, repairing, operating, and maintaining real property adjacent to or used in association with the state intercity passenger rail service which may include, but are not limited to, depots, platforms, parking areas, and maintenance facilities, even if such real property is owned or controlled by another entity.  However, any expenditure of public funds for these purposes shall be directly related to public benefit of the state's intercity passenger rail service.  The department shall enter into a written contract with the affected real property owners to secure the public's investment.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

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