HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6350

As Reported by House Committee On:

Transportation

Title:  An act relating to county funding of state highway improvements.

Brief Description:  Allowing use of county road funds for state highway improvements.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Horn, McAuliffe and Oke).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation:  2/25/02, 2/26/02 [DP].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Funds in a county road fund may be used to pay for improvements to state highways.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 26 members: Representatives Fisher, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Lovick, Vice Chair; Mitchell, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Armstrong, Edwards, Ericksen, Haigh, Hankins, Hatfield, Holmquist, Jackley, Jarrett, Mielke, Morell, Murray, Ogden, Reardon, Rockefeller, Romero, Schindler, Simpson, Skinner, Sullivan and Wood.

Staff:  Paul Neal (786‑7315).

Background:

With the approval of the state Department of Transportation, a county is authorized to improve or fund the improvement of any state highway within its boundaries.  A county that chooses to improve a state highway may utilize a county road improvement district (RID) under Chapter 36.88 RCW or a county service district under Chapter 36.83 RCW.

Counties are also authorized to conduct a road levy countywide to provide funds for improvement of roads.  These funds are placed in a county road fund established under Chapter 36.82 RCW.   Money in the county road fund may not be used to fund improvements to state highways.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The prohibition against the use of county road funds for the improvement of state highways is modified.  Moneys from the county road fund may be used to improve state highways but may not be used for maintenance or operations.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

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

Testimony For:  A county would be allowed to make needed improvements to state highways within that county.  An example would be an intersection of a county road and a state highway.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Jackie White, Washington State Association of Counties.