04/08/1994 08:38 AM House FIN

  HOUSE BILL NO. 301                                                           
                                                                               
       "An Act prohibiting  the sale of certain  studded tires                 
       or the sale of certain studs  to be installed in tires;                 
       and providing for an effective date."                                   
                                                                               
  Representative   Hanley   observed    that   studies    have                 
  demonstrated  that studded  tires have  significant  wear on                 
  roads.  He  estimated that reducing  the weight of studs  in                 
  studded  tires  will reduce  road wear  by  50 percent.   He                 
  maintained  that  lighter  weight  studs  perform  equal  to                 
  standard studs.   Lighter studs are available  for purchase.                 
  Lighter studs cost between $1 to  $2 dollars, per tire, more                 
  than standard studs.  He noted that HB 301 prohibits sale of                 
  the standard stud after FY 97.                                               
                                                                               
  In  response  to  a   question  by  Representative  Hoffman,                 
  Representative Hanley reiterated that lighter studs function                 
  equal to standard heavier studs.                                             
                                                                               
  In  response  to   a  question   by  Representative   Brown,                 
  Representative Hanley clarified that  use of standard  tires                 
  will not  be prohibited.  Owners  will be able  to use their                 
  old tires until they wear out.                                               
                                                                               
  Representative Brown observed  that the  fiscal note by  the                 
  Department of Transportation and Public Facilities  reflects                 
  an immediate savings.  She pointed out that the law will not                 
  go into effect until 1997.   Co-Chair Larson agreed that the                 
  fiscal note should be revised.                                               
                                                                               
  Representative   Hanley   noted  that   the   Department  of                 
  Transportation and Public Facilities would like to see studs                 
  that are  of  lighter steel  weight  than the  aggregate  in                 
  roads.  He concluded that lighter studs are unavailable  and                 
  would wear out too quickly.                                                  
                                                                               
  Representative Therriault  noted that  only a  few countries                 
                                                                               
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  manufacture  studs.   He estimated  that as  the  demand for                 
  lighter studs grow, they may be cheaper than standard studs.                 
  Representative  Hanley observed  that  factories in  Germany                 
  seem to be switching to the lighter weight studs.                            
                                                                               
  Representative  Grussendorf MOVED to report CSSSHB 301 (L&C)                 
  out of Committee with individual  recommendations and with a                 
  revised fiscal note by the  Department of Transportation and                 
  Public Facilities.                                                           
                                                                               
  CSSSHB 301 (L&C)  was reported out  of Committee with a  "do                 
  pass"  recommendation and with  a fiscal impact  note by the                 
  Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.