HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2882

BYRepresentatives R. Fisher and Schmidt

Authorizing the department of transportation to approve emergency contracts.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (24)

      Signed by Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair, Eastern Washington; R. Meyers, Vice Chair, Western Washington; Schmidt, Ranking Republican Member; Wood, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bennett, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, G. Fisher, Forner, Gallagher, Hankins, Heavey, Jones, Kremen, Nelson, Prentice, D. Sommers, Todd, Walker, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Louise Bray Sandison (786-7322)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 12, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, the secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) may award emergency contracts without Transportation Commission authorization only when the contract amount is under $100,000.

When the contract amount exceeds $100,000, the Transportation Commission must find that the existing state highway is in jeopardy or is rendered impassible due to accident, natural disaster or other emergency.  If the commission so finds, then it may authorize the DOT to obtain three written bids without publishing a call for bids and award the contract.

Whenever the commission finds it necessary to protect a highway facility from imminent damage or to perform emergency work to reopen a highway, it may authorize the DOT to contract for that work on a negotiated basis not to exceed force account rates for a period not to exceed 30 days.

SUMMARY:

The secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) is authorized to make the necessary findings and to award emergency contracts.  If the contract award exceeds $200,000, the secretary must review the approved contract with the Transportation Commission at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    John Conrad, Department of Transportation.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Authorizing the secretary to award emergency contracts allows emergency situations to be dealt with more quickly and efficiently.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.