SB 6072-S.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Provides that money deposited in the segregated subaccount of the air pollution control account under RCW 46.68.020(2) shall be distributed as follows: (1) Eighty-five percent shall be distributed to air pollution control authorities created under chapter 70.94 RCW.

(2) The remaining fifteen percent shall be distributed to the department.

Provides that money distributed to air pollution control authorities and the department under this act must be used as follows: (1) Eighty-five percent of the money received by an air pollution control authority or the department must be used to retrofit school buses with exhaust emission control devices or to provide funding for fueling infrastructure necessary to allow school bus fleets to use alternative, cleaner fuels.

(2) The remaining fifteen percent may be used by the air pollution control authority or department to reduce vehicle air contaminant emissions and clean up air pollution, or reduce and monitor toxic air contaminants.

(3) Money in the air pollution control account may be spent by the department only after appropriation.

(4) The department shall provide a report to the legislative transportation committees on the progress of the implementation of this section by December 31, 2004.

Appropriates the sum of ten million dollars for the biennium ending June 30, 2005, from the segregated subaccount of the air pollution control account to the department of ecology for the purposes of this act.

Creates the vessel response account in the state treasury. Grants, gifts, and federal funds may be deposited into the account. Oil spill penalties assessed against ships under RCW 90.56.330 and 90.48.144 shall also be deposited into the account as well as the money distributed under RCW 46.68.020(2).

Authorizes the department of ecology to utilize the vessel response account to preposition a dedicated rescue tug at the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca to reduce the risk of major maritime accidents and oil spills on the outer coast and western strait.

Directs the department of ecology to complete an evaluation of tug escort requirements for laden tankers to determine if the current escort system requirements under RCW 88.16.190 should be modified to recognize safety enhancements of the new double hull tankers deployed with redundant systems. The department shall provide a report with recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by January 1, 2005.

Appropriates the sum of two million eight hundred seventy-six thousand dollars for the biennium ending June 30, 2005, from the vessel response account to the department of ecology for the purposes of section 3 of this act.

Appropriates the sum of two hundred thousand dollars for the biennium ending June 30, 2005, from the oil spill prevention account to the department of ecology for the purposes of section 4 of this act.

Provides that the fees collected under RCW 46.12.040(1) shall be credited to the multimodal transportation account in RCW 47.66.070.

Provides that, beginning with the effective date of this act, and until July 1, 2008, the fees collected under RCW 46.12.080, 46.12.170, and 46.12.181 shall be credited as indicated.

VETO MESSAGE ON SB 6072-S

May 14, 2003

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 section 6, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6072 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to funding pollution abatement and response;"

This bill establishes funding for a tugboat to reduce the risk of major maritime accidents, to enhance emission control for school buses, and to reduce and monitor vehicle air emissions.

I support these important environmental responsibilities, and appreciate the work of the legislature to provide for these activities within existing funds. However, section 6 of this bill would inadvertently eliminate the fifty-dollar physical inspection fee required for some out-of-state vehicles prior to registration in Washington State. I am, therefore, vetoing section 6 of this bill in order to maintain the inspection fee, which provides $2.5 million annual revenue for this important public safety program.

For these reasons, I have vetoed section 6 of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6072.

With the exception of section 6, of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6072 is approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Gary Locke

Governor