Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Transportation Committee |
HB 1584
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. |
Brief Description: Restricting the availability of state funds to regional transportation planning organizations that do not provide a reasonable opportunity for voting membership to certain federally recognized tribes.
Sponsors: Representatives Riccelli, Ormsby, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Lovick, Ramos, Stanford and Leavitt.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/13/19
Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).
Background:
A Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) is a voluntary association of local governments within a county, or within geographically contiguous counties, created primarily to prepare a regional transportation plan and to ensure local and regional coordination of transportation planning within a county or counties. An RTPO can cover both urban and rural areas and receives state funding in support of its planning efforts.
An RTPO must contain:
at least one complete county with a population of at least 100,000;
at least one complete county with a population of at least 75,000 and contain a Washington State Ferries terminal;
at least three counties regardless of population; or
at least one complete county with a population of at least 40,000 and covering a geographic area of at least 5,000 square miles.
An RTPO must also include at least 60 percent of the cities and towns in the region representing at least 75 percent of the cities' and towns' populations.
There are currently RTPOs covering 38 of the 39 counties in Washington. San Juan County is not part of any RTPO.
All RTPOs are encouraged to seek Native American tribal involvement under the Washington Administrative Code.
Summary of Bill:
In order to be eligible to receive funds that are appropriated to the WSDOT for local planning purposes, an RTPO must provide a reasonable opportunity for voting membership to any federally recognized tribe that holds reservation or trust land within the RTPO boundaries.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 7, 2019.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on August 1, 2019.