HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1860
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 Reported by House Committee On:
Transportation
Title: An act relating to population-based representation on the governing body of public transportation benefit areas.
Brief Description: Concerning population-based representation on the governing body of public transportation benefit areas.
Sponsors: Representatives Fey, Jinkins and Sawyer.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 2/13/17, 2/21/17 [DPS].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION |
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 14 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Farrell, Vice Chair; Fey, Vice Chair; Wylie, Vice Chair; Chapman, Gregerson, Kloba, Lovick, McBride, Morris, Ortiz-Self, Pellicciotti, Riccelli and Tarleton.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Harmsworth, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hayes, Irwin, Pike, Shea, Stambaugh, Van Werven and Young.
Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).
Background:
A public transportation benefit area (PTBA) is a special-purpose district authorized to provide public transportation service within all or a portion of a county or counties. Generally speaking, "public transportation service" means the transportation of packages, passengers, and their incidental baggage by means other than by chartered bus or sight-seeing bus, together with the terminals and parking facilities necessary for passenger and vehicular access to and from such systems. It also means passenger-only ferry service for those PTBAs eligible to provide passenger-only ferry service.
A PTBA may collect fares for service and, with approval of the majority of the voters within the area, impose up to a 0.9 percent sales and use tax within the area. A PTBA in a county with a population of 700,000 or more, which also contains a city with a population of 75,000 or more that operates a transit system, may impose a sales and use tax of up to 0.3 percent with the approval of the voters within the area, in addition to the up to 0.9 percent sales and use tax that all PTBAs are eligible to impose.
A PTBA is created or its boundaries modified through a conference process attended by elected representatives selected by the legislative body of each city within the boundaries of the PTBA, as well as the county legislative authority or authorities. Within 60 days of establishment, the county legislative body or bodies and the elected representatives of each city within the PTBA must provide for the selection of a governing body of not more than nine elected officials (or, in the case of a multicounty PTBA, not more than 15 members) selected by and serving at the pleasure of the governments of the cities and counties in the PTBA. Cities within the PTBA that are excluded from direct membership on the authority are permitted to designate a member of the PTBA who is entitled to represent the interests of those cities.
After a PTBA has been in existence for four years, and every four years thereafter, the county legislative body or bodies and the elected representatives of each city within the PTBA must review the composition of the governing board and change it if appropriate.
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Summary of Substitute Bill:
The members of the governing board of a PTBA that is located in a county with a population of more than 400,000 that does not also contain a city with a population of more than 75,000 that operates a transit system pursuant to chapter 35.95 RCW are required to be selected, to the extent possible, to assure proportional representation of the cities and unincorporated sections of counties that are located within the PTBA boundaries.
A single component city may not have a majority of the board of the PTBA representing it. If necessary to insure proportional representation, a single elected representative from one of the cities within the PTBA may represent multiple cities.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
The substitute bill limits the number of board members that a single component city may have to less than a majority of the board.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect on August 1, 2017.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) The Pierce, Clark, and Spokane county PTBA boards do not reflect the ridership and the population of those PTBAs. The federated board of a PTBA should be reflective of the population of the areas that it serves, which is what this bill will require.
Fair representation in terms of both taxes and service will be achieved through the passage of this bill.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Fey, prime sponsor; and Cody Arledge, Transportation Choices Coalition.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.