H-4493.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2983

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

By Representatives Armstrong, Anderson, Mitchell, Morell, Mielke, Pflug, Boldt, Woods and Kessler

Read first time 02/27/2002.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Maximizing motorist information sign revenues.

    AN ACT Relating to maximizing the revenue generated from motorist information sign panels; and adding a new section to chapter 47.36 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 47.36 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) When exercising its authority to erect and maintain motorist information sign panels under RCW 47.36.310 and 47.36.320, the department shall contract with a private contractor for a term of ten years.  The contractor selected by the department must be incorporated, and must maintain an office, in this state.

    (2) The contractor, at no cost to the department, is solely responsible for marketing, administration, financial management, sign fabrication, installation, and maintenance and is subject to the provisions of this chapter otherwise applicable to the department.  The contractor may set the market rate to be charged to businesses advertising on the motorist informational signs.

    (3) A contract entered into between the department and a contractor must require the contractor to administer, fabricate, install, and maintain community historical signs authorized for placement by the department at no cost to the department.

    (4) The department may set such contractual terms as it deems necessary to guarantee the performance of the contract.  The department shall periodically monitor the performance of the contract.

    (5) The department shall hold a public auction to determine the contractor specified in this section.  The department shall give public notice of the auction at least thirty days before the auction.  The highest bidder must be selected as the contractor.  At the expiration of the ten-year contract, the department shall again conduct a public auction to determine the contractor for the next ten years.

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