FINAL BILL REPORT

                           SSB 6089

                          C 194 L 94

                      SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Creating the collegiate license plate fund program.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators West, Bauer, A. Smith, Vognild, Talmadge, Nelson, Prince, Oke, Sutherland, Winsley, Sheldon, M. Rasmussen, Deccio, Erwin, Roach, Ludwig, Drew, Loveland, Sellar, Cantu, Morton and Skratek; by request of Washington State University)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

BACKGROUND:

Currently, the Department of Licensing (DOL) has the authority to create, design, and issue special license plates, in lieu of regular or personalized license plates.  In addition to ordinary fees required to register and license vehicles, the department may charge a fee of not more than $35 to offset the costs of production of the special plates and for the  administration of the special plate program; these fees are deposited in the motor vehicle fund.

Institutions of higher education, including state universities, regional universities, The Evergreen State College, community colleges, and technical colleges may petition the department to create, design, and issue a vehicle license plate emblem series that identifies that institution.  The emblem may display a mascot, slogan, message or symbol.  The department has the sole discretion for approving or disapproving institutions for participation in the vehicle license plate emblem program.  Fees collected by the department for the emblems are to be deposited in the special vehicle license plate emblem account.  Institutions approved for participation in the emblem program may collect additional fees from persons receiving an emblem to be used for purposes of the approved institution.

A "cabulance" is a taxicab, or other for-hire passenger vehicle, that is specially equipped to accommodate a person confined to a wheelchair, or otherwise physically restricted.  Because of the nature of the service, cabulances should be considered for inclusion in the list of agencies eligible for the special parking privilege.  There are currently 25 cabulances operating in the state of Washington.

SUMMARY:

RCW 46.16.323, the vehicle license plate emblem program for institutions of higher education, is repealed.

Beginning January 1, 1995, a state university, regional university, or state college may apply to the Department of Licensing to issue a collegiate license plate series.  A collegiate license plate displays a depiction of the mascot or symbol of the college or university, plus the name of the college or university.

In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon registration and renewal of a motor vehicle, the owner of a motor vehicle issued a collegiate license plate shall pay an annual fee of $30.  The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed $2 for administration and collection expenses.  The remaining proceeds minus the cost of plate production shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for deposit in the collegiate license plate accounts.

A collegiate license plate account is established in the State Treasury for each college or university that develops and administers a collegiate license plate program.  The money credited to each college and university shall be used for student scholarships.

By January 1, 1996, DOL shall report to the Legislative Transportation Committee regarding the number of colleges or universities issued a collegiate license plate series, and the total number of collegiate plates issued for each participating college or university.

Cabulances join the list of entities providing transportation services for persons with disabilities that are eligible for the special parking program administered by DOL.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate    45   0

House     96   0    (House amended)

Senate             (Senate refused to concur)

Conference Committee

House     97   0

Senate    44   0

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1994