H-0005.2
HOUSE BILL 1198
State of Washington 67th Legislature 2021 Regular Session
By Representatives Dent and Orwall
Read first time 01/14/21. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
1 AN ACT Relating to the state commercial aviation coordinating
2 commission; amending 2019 c 396 ss 1-5 (uncodified); providing
3 expiration dates; and declaring an emergency.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
5 Sec. 1. 2019 c 396 s 1 (uncodified) is amended to read as
6 follows:
7 The legislature finds that with the increase in air traffic
8 operations, combined with the projections for the rapid expansion of
9 these operations in both the short and the long term, concerns
10 regarding the environmental, health, social, and economic impacts of
11 air traffic are increasing as well. The legislature also finds that
12 advancing Washington's position as a national and international
13 trading leader is dependent upon the development of a highly
14 competitive, statewide passenger and cargo air transportation system.
15 Therefore, the legislature seeks to identify a location for a new
16 primary commercial aviation facility in Washington, taking into
17 consideration the data and conclusions of appropriate air traffic
18 studies, community representatives, and industry experts. Options for
19 a new primary commercial aviation facility in Washington may include
20 expansion of an existing airport facility. It is the intent of the
21 legislature to establish a state commercial aviation coordinating
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 1 commission to provide a location recommendation by January 1,
2 ((2022)) 2024. The legislature also recognizes any preferred location
3 will require substantial environmental, land use, governance, and
4 funding decisions from state and local governments.
5 Sec. 2. 2019 c 396 s 2 (uncodified) is amended to read as
6 follows:
7 (1) The state commercial aviation coordinating commission is
8 created to carry out the functions of this chapter. The commission
9 shall consist of fifteen voting members.
10 (2) The governor shall appoint thirteen voting members to
11 represent the following interests:
12 (a) Four as representatives of commercial service airports and
13 ports, one of whom shall represent a port located in a county with a
14 population of two million or more, one of whom shall represent a port
15 in eastern Washington with an airport runway of at least thirteen
16 thousand five hundred feet in length, one of whom shall represent a
17 commercial service airport in eastern Washington located in a county
18 with a population of four hundred thousand or more, and one
19 representing an association of ports;
20 (b) Three as representatives from the airline industry and the
21 private sector;
22 (c) Two citizen representatives with one appointed from eastern
23 Washington and one appointed from western Washington. The citizen
24 appointees must:
25 (i) Represent the public interests in the communities that are
26 included in the commission's site research; and
27 (ii) Understand the impacts of a large commercial aviation
28 facility on a community;
29 (d) A representative from the freight forwarding industry;
30 (e) A representative from the trucking industry;
31 (f) A representative from a community organization that
32 understands the impacts of a large commercial aviation facility on a
33 community; and
34 (g) A representative from a statewide environmental organization.
35 (3) The remaining two members shall consist of:
36 (a) A representative from the department of commerce; and
37 (b) A representative from the division of aeronautics of the
38 department of transportation.
39 (4) The commission shall invite the following nonvoting members:
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 1 (a) A representative from the Washington state aviation alliance;
2 (b) A representative from the department of defense;
3 (c) Two members from the senate, with one member from each of the
4 two largest caucuses in the senate, appointed by the president of the
5 senate;
6 (d) Two members from the house of representatives, with one
7 member from each of the two largest caucuses in the house of
8 representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of
9 representatives;
10 (e) A representative from the division of aeronautics of the
11 department of transportation;
12 (f) A representative from an eastern Washington metropolitan
13 planning organization;
14 (g) A representative from a western Washington metropolitan
15 planning organization;
16 (h) A representative from an eastern Washington regional airport;
17 and
18 (i) A representative from a western Washington regional airport.
19 (5) The governor may appoint additional nonvoting members as
20 deemed appropriate.
21 (6) The commission shall select a chair from among its membership
22 and shall adopt rules related to its powers and duties under this
23 chapter.
24 (7) Legislative members of the commission are reimbursed for
25 travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative
26 members are not entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they
27 are elected officials or are participating on behalf of an employer,
28 governmental entity, or other organization. Any reimbursement for
29 other nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW. The
30 commission has all powers necessary to carry out its duties as
31 prescribed by this chapter.
32 (8) The department of transportation shall provide staff support
33 for coordinating and administering the commission and technical
34 assistance as requested by commission members. The department shall
35 consider cost-saving options such as using online conferencing tools.
36 Meetings shall be held in Olympia, Washington unless resources allow
37 for alternative locations.
38 (9) At the direction of the commission, and as resources allow,
39 the department of transportation is authorized to hire a consultant
40 to assist with the review and research efforts of the commission. The
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1 contract is exempt from the competitive procurement requirements in
2 chapter 39.26 RCW.
3 (10) The department of transportation shall convene the initial
4 meeting of the commission as soon as practicable.
5 (11) This section expires July 1, ((2022)) 2024.
6 Sec. 3. 2019 c 396 s 3 (uncodified) is amended to read as
7 follows:
8 (1) The state commercial aviation coordinating commission will
9 review existing data and conduct research to determine Washington's
10 long-range commercial aviation facility needs and the site of a new
11 primary commercial aviation facility. Research for each potential
12 site must include the feasibility of constructing a commercial
13 aviation facility in that location and its potential environmental,
14 community, and economic impacts. Options for a new primary commercial
15 aviation facility in Washington may include expansion of an existing
16 airport facility but may not include siting a facility on or in the
17 vicinity of a military installation that would be incompatible with
18 the installation's ability to carry out its mission requirements. The
19 work of the commission shall include the following:
20 (a) Recommendations to the legislature on future Washington state
21 long-range commercial aviation facility needs including possible
22 additional aviation facilities or expansion of current aviation
23 facilities, excluding those located in a county with a population of
24 two million or more with the highest volume of deplanements, to meet
25 anticipated commercial aviation, general aviation, and air cargo
26 demands. The commission shall explore the use of community benefits
27 agreements in making its recommendations; and
28 (b) Identifying a preferred location for a new primary commercial
29 aviation facility. The commission shall make recommendations and
30 shall select a single preferred location by a sixty percent majority
31 vote using the following process:
32 (i) Initiating a broad review of potential sites;
33 (ii) Recommending a final short list of no more than six
34 locations by January 1, ((2021)) 2023;
35 (iii) Identifying the top two locations from the final six
36 locations by September 1, ((2021)) 2023; and
37 (iv) Identifying a single preferred location for a new primary
38 commercial aviation facility by January 1, ((2022)) 2024.
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1 (2) The commission shall submit a report of its findings and
2 recommendations to the transportation committees of the legislature
3 by January 1, ((2022)) 2024. The commission must allow a minority
4 report to be included with the commission report if requested by a
5 voting member of the commission.
6 (3) This section expires July 1, ((2022)) 2024.
7 Sec. 4. 2019 c 396 s 4 (uncodified) is amended to read as
8 follows:
9 (1) The state commercial aviation coordinating commission shall
10 project a timeline for the development of an additional commercial
11 aviation facility that is completed and functional by 2040.
12 (2) This section expires July 1, ((2022)) 2024.
13 Sec. 5. 2019 c 396 s 5 (uncodified) is amended to read as
14 follows:
15 (1) Nothing in this act shall be construed to endorse, limit, or
16 otherwise alter existing or future plans for capital development and
17 capacity enhancement at existing commercial airports in Washington.
18 (2) This section expires July 1, ((2022)) 2024.
19 NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act is necessary for the immediate
20 preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of
21 the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes
22 effect immediately.
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