SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6304

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, January 26, 2000

Title:  An act relating to reissuance of license plates.

Brief Description:  Modifying the license plate replacement program.

Sponsors:  Senators McCaslin and Haugen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/20/2000, 1/26/2000 [DPS, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6304 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Morton, Oke, Patterson, Prentice, T. Sheldon and Shin.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senator Heavey.

Staff:  Jennifer Ziegler (786-7316)

Background:  The 1996 supplemental transportation budget directed the Legislative Transportation Committee (LTC) to develop recommendations regarding motor vehicle license plates.  The LTC established a license plate working group, composed of six legislators, to spearhead the review.  The working group met four times during the interim and developed legislative recommendations aimed at curtailing the number of special license plates.

In 1997, the Legislature enacted SHB 1008 as a result of the recommendations of the LTC working group.  The legislation prohibited the creation of additional special license plate series, required that all license plates be issued on a standard background by January 1, 2001, and required the Department of Licensing to periodically provide for the replacement of license plates to ensure maximum legibility and reflectivity.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The requirements that the Department of Licensing provide for the periodic replacement of license plates and that all license plates be issued on a standard background are removed.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill added the requirement that all license plates be issued on a standard background be removed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 12, 2000.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Several citizens are required to replace their plates when the plates are easy to read.  Law enforcement officers have the authority to issue citations for illegible plates.

Testimony With Concerns:  Reflectivity of plates is an important issue for troopers on the highway.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator McCaslin, prime sponsor; Senator Benton; Bob Terwilliger, Snohomish County Auditor, Auditors= Assn.; Captain Eric Robertson, WA State Patrol (concerns).