HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1427
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 county electrical traffic control signals, illumination equipment, and other electrical equipment conveying an electrical current.
Brief Description: Concerning county electrical traffic control signals, illumination equipment, and other electrical equipment conveying an electrical current.
Sponsors: Representatives Irwin, Chapman, Fey, Walsh, Shea and Riccelli.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 2/4/19, 2/27/19 [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 30 members: Representatives Fey, Chair; Slatter, 2nd Vice Chair; Valdez, 2nd Vice Chair; Wylie, 1st Vice Chair; Barkis, Ranking Minority Member; Walsh, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Young, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boehnke, Chambers, Chapman, Dent, Doglio, Dufault, Entenman, Eslick, Goehner, Gregerson, Irwin, Kloba, Lovick, McCaslin, Mead, Orcutt, Ortiz-Self, Paul, Pellicciotti, Ramos, Riccelli, Shea and Van Werven.
Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).
Background:
A county may usually construct or improve any county road using regular employees of the county, subject to certain monetary limitations.
For counties with a population of 400,000 or more, the maximum annual cost of road construction projects undertaken by county employees may not exceed $3.25 million plus this same amount multiplied by the previous year's county motor vehicle fuel tax distribution factor (distribution factor). For counties with a population equal to or greater than 150,000 and less than 400,000, the maximum annual cost of road construction projects undertaken by county employees may not exceed $1.75 million plus this same amount multiplied by the previous year's distribution factor. For counties with a population equal to or greater than 30,000 and less than 150,000, the maximum annual cost of road construction projects undertaken by county employees may not exceed $1.25 million plus this same amount multiplied by the previous year's distribution factor. For counties with a population of less than 30,000, the maximum annual cost of road construction projects undertaken by county employees may not exceed $700,000 plus this same amount multiplied by the previous year's distribution factor.
Whenever the construction work or improvement is the installation of electrical traffic control devices, highway illumination equipment, electrical equipment, wires, or equipment to convey electrical current, in an amount exceeding $10,000 for any one project including labor, equipment, and materials, the work must be performed by contract.
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Summary of Substitute Bill:
The dollar amount limit is increased from $10,000 to $40,000 for any one project that may be undertaken by county employees that involves the installation of electrical traffic control devices, highway illumination equipment, electrical equipment, wires, or equipment to convey electrical current.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:
Counties are still required to contract for projects that involve the installation of electrical traffic control devices, highway illumination equipment, electrical equipment, wires, or equipment to convey electrical current, but the dollar amount limit is increased from $10,000 to $40,000 for any one project that may be undertaken by county employees.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Counties have requested that the current $10,000 cap on electrical work be removed. There is an effort to reach agreement on an amount to raise the cap too. The cap should be set at a reasonable amount the current onerous requirement removed.
Counties want to cut costs and implement efficiencies. The counties have limited resources, and removing the cap will help stretch these resources.
Electrical work is the only item that is currently restricted in statute. County workers are trained to do this work, but the cap is too low to let them do it with the current price for materials.
(Opposed) Contracting for services is critical for both transparency and competition.
Work also needs to be done properly, and in order for this to happen, competent workers must be used.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Irwin, prime sponsor; and Jane Wall, Washington State Association of Counties.
(Opposed) Brent Ludeman, National Electrical Contractors Association; and Matthew Hepner, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.