SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 2370
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As of February 27, 2012
Title: An act relating to including health in the state transportation system policy goals.
Brief Description: Including health in the state transportation system policy goals.
Sponsors: Representatives Billig, Jinkins, Cody, Liias, Fitzgibbon, Green, Lytton, Ryu, Moscoso, Ladenburg, Maxwell, Tharinger, Finn, Pedersen, Reykdal, Hansen, Hunt, Ormsby, Clibborn, Moeller, Kenney and Santos.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/10/12, 53-43.
Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/27/12.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION |
Staff: Kelly Simpson (786-7403)
Background: Current law identifies six statewide transportation system policy goals for the planning, operation, performance of, and investment in, the state's transportation system.
The policy goals are identified as follows:
Economic Vitality: to promote and develop transportation systems that stimulate, support, and enhance the movement of people and goods to ensure a prosperous economy;
Preservation: to maintain, preserve, and extend the life and utility of prior investments in transportation systems and services;
Safety: to provide for and improve the safety and security of transportation customers and the transportation system;
Mobility: to improve the predictable movement of goods and people throughout Washington State;
Environment: to enhance Washington's quality of life through transportation investments that promote energy conservation, enhance healthy communities, and protect the environment; and
Stewardship: to continuously improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of the transportation system.
Summary of Bill: The bill as referred to committee not considered.
Summary of Bill (Proposed Amendment): A seventh statewide transportation system policy goal is added as follows:
Health: to improve the health of Washington's citizens and reduce health care costs by considering health implications when designing, building, and maintaining Washington's transportation system.
The mobility policy goal is replaced with traffic congestion relief, to read as follows:
Traffic congestion relief: to reduce traffic congestion and improve vehicle travel times for transportation customers, which improves the predictable movement of goods and people throughout Washington State.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Making certain improvements to our state's transportation system can have a significant positive impact on citizens' health. These improvements can significantly reduce health care costs. The bill does not mandate health impact assessments. Certain transportation improvements, when considering health aspects, can ultimately prevent children from developing certain diseases in their adult lives. Obesity has become a crisis in this country. Citizens are seeing a strong link between a comprehensive transportation system and health behaviors of users of the transportation system.
CON: No change should be made to the existing six statewide policy goals. The six are broad enough to encompass health, particularly safety and environment. We should wait until the next state long-term transportation plan is adopted before we start adding new goals. Health goals already exist in numerous health-specific statutes in current law. It is not the job of the state transportation system to make people healthy; numerous other activities do that, including joining a gym.
OTHER: The Washington Policy Center supports bringing back into current law traffic congestion relief as a statewide transportation policy goal.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Billing, prime sponsor; Victor Colman, Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition; Jane A. Moore, M.D., WA Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity; Craig Benjamin, Cascade Bicycle Club; Katie Kolan, WA State Medical Assn.; Nathan Weed, WA State Public Health Assn.; Brad Banks, WA State Assn. of Local Public Health Officials; John Keates, WA Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity, WA Recreation and Park Assn.
CON: Duke Schaub, Associated General Contractors of WA; Dave Overstreet, AAA; Rick Wickman, Identity Clark County; John Worthington, citizen.
OTHER: Mike Ennis, WA Policy Center.