HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 2201

BYHouse Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Walk, Jones, Hargrove, Zellinsky, Schmidt and Vekich)

Revising funding of the Hood Canal Bridge.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (20)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Wood, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Cooper, Day, G. Fisher, R. Fisher, Gallagher, Hankins, Heavey, Jones, R. Meyers, Nelson, Prentice, Prince, Smith, Todd, Walker and Zellinsky.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (6)

      Signed by Representatives Betrozoff, Haugen, Kremen, Patrick, D. Sommers and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Gene Schlatter (786-7316)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 14, 1989

BACKGROUND:

A recent court case resulted in requiring the Department of Transportation to re-establish tolls on the Hood Canal Bridge.  Under current law Hood Canal Bridge tolls must be in place until all obligations have been repaid, including principle and interest on Hood Canal Bridge bonds.

SUMMARY:

The requirement to collect tolls for maintenance and operations, debt service on outstanding bonds, or repayment to the Motor Vehicle Fund for previous expenditures is eliminated.  Tolls are not required so long as sufficient funds (from the Puget Sound Construction Account) are available to pay debt service.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Terry McCarthy, Marine Division--Department of Transportation.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The Transportation Commission will be required to reimpose the Hood Canal Bridge tolls if statutes requiring such tolls are not eliminated.  This will not impair the contractual obligation of the state to the bond holders.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.