Lara Keel Lobbyist Update: HB 1
House Bill No. 1 will create two committees to take a closer look at multiple aspects of transportation funding and also establishes a process to continue to hold a solid balance in the current Economic Stabilization Fund. The bill creates the House Select Committee on Transportation and the Senate Select Committee on Transportation Funding. Together, these committees will address financing and budgeting as well as use of the State Highway Fund. There is no significant fiscal implication to the state that has yet been projected.
The bill creates two committees to evaluate various aspects of transportation funding and also establishes a process to preserve a balance in the Economic Stabilization Fund.
The bill creates the House Select Committee on Transportation Funding, Expenditures, and Finance and creates the Senate Select Committee on Transportation Funding, Expenditures, and Finance. The committees are directed to jointly adopt recommendations with respect to various aspects of transportation financing and budgeting, the use of the State Highway Fund, and the purpose and composition of the Economic Stabilization Fund. The report is due no later than November 1, 2014.
The bill establishes a process to preserve a balance in the Economic Stabilization Fund. Prior to submitting a budget as prescribed by the constitution, the Legislative Budget Board is directed to determine and adopt a “sufficient balance of the fund in an amount that the board estimates will ensure an appropriate amount of revenue available in the fund.” If the Board does not do so, then the allocation of General Revenue to the State Highway Fund as provided for in HJR 1 would cease. The sufficient balance adopted by the Board must be approved by at least two-thirds of the members of each house. If the balance is not approved by at least two-thirds of the members of each house, then the allocation of General Revenue to the State Highway Fund as provided for in HJR 1 would similarly cease.
Should the actual balance (determined as the prior year’s ending balance plus anticipated deposits) not be maintained, again the allocation of GR to the State Highway Fund provided for in HJR 1 would shift to the Economic Stabilization Fund until the balance is restored.