VETO MESSAGE ON SB 6856-S2

                   May 2, 2000

To the Honorable President and Members,

  The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval as to sections 8(2) and 15 of Second Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6856 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to transportation funding;"

     Section 8(2) (found at page 14, line 37 through page 15, line 6 of the bill) would have amended RCW 46.68.035 and Chapter 102, Section 7, laws of 1993, to redirect the portion of the combined vehicle license fee revenues that are currently distributed to the State Patrol Highway Account to instead be distributed to the Motor Vehicle Account.  This change in distribution was inadvertently copied from an earlier version of the bill and would have the effect of putting the State Patrol Highway Account in a deficit position.  In order to restore legislative intent and to avoid fund balance problems in the State Patrol Highway Account, I have vetoed this section.

     Section 15 (found on pages 24 and 25 of the bill) would have amended RCW 44.40.070 and Chapter 245, Section 87, laws of 1998, so that the transportation revenue forecast council would be responsible for adopting a comprehensive six-year program and financial plans for state agency transportation activities.  The section also would have codified the membership of the transportation revenue forecast council to include only transportation agencies.  The council currently includes representatives from transportation agencies, as well as the Office of Financial Management, the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, the Office of the State Treasurer, and the House and Senate Transportation Committees.  I do not support the exclusion of non-transportation agencies from the council, and I believe that the development and adoption of six-year transportation expenditure and revenue plans should remain with the agencies.

     For these reasons, I have vetoed sections 8(2) and 15, Second Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6856.

     With the exception of sections 8(2) and 15, Second Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6856 is approved.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Gary Locke

                   Governor