The legislature finds and declares that privately operated limousine transportation service is a vital part of the transportation system within the state and provides prearranged transportation services to state residents, tourists, and out-of-state business people. Consequently, the safety, reliability, and stability of privately operated limousine transportation services are matters of statewide importance. The regulation of privately operated limousine transportation services is thus an essential governmental function. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to permit the department and a port district in a county with a population of one million or more to regulate limousine transportation services without liability under federal antitrust laws. It is further the intent of the legislature to authorize a city with a population of five hundred thousand or more to enforce this chapter through a joint agreement with the department, and to direct the department to provide annual funding from limousine regulation-related fees that provide sufficient funds to such a city to provide delegated enforcement.
Transfer of powers, duties, and functions—1996 c 87: "(1) All powers, duties, and functions of the utilities and transportation commission pertaining to the regulation of limousines and limousine charter party carriers are transferred to the department of licensing. All references to the utilities and transportation commission in the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed to mean the director or the department of licensing when referring to the functions transferred in this section.
(2)(a) All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, papers, or written material in the possession of the utilities and transportation commission pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be delivered to the custody of the department of licensing. All cabinets, furniture, office equipment, motor vehicles, and other tangible property employed by the utilities and transportation commission in carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be made available to the department of licensing. All funds, credits, or other assets held in connection with the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be assigned to the department of licensing.
(b) Any appropriations made to the utilities and transportation commission for carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall, on June 6, 1996, be transferred and credited to the department of licensing.
(c) Whenever any question arises as to the transfer of any personnel, funds, books, documents, records, papers, files, equipment, or other tangible property used or held in the exercise of the powers and the performance of the duties and functions transferred, the director of financial management shall make a determination as to the proper allocation and certify the same to the state agencies concerned.
(3) All rules and all pending business before the utilities and transportation commission pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties transferred shall be continued and acted upon by the department of licensing. All existing contracts and obligations shall remain in full force and shall be performed by the department of licensing.
(4) The transfer of the powers, duties, and functions of the utilities and transportation commission shall not affect the validity of any act performed before June 6, 1996.
(5) If apportionments of budgeted funds are required because of the transfers directed by this section, the director of financial management shall certify the apportionments to the agencies affected, the state auditor, and the state treasurer. Each of these shall make the appropriate transfer and adjustments in funds and appropriation accounts and equipment records in accordance with the certification." [
1996 c 87 s 22.]