Title: An act relating to the "we love our pets" special license plates.

Brief Description: Authorizing the "we love our pets" license plate.

Sponsors: Representatives Lantz, Campbell, Appleton, Moeller and Conway.

Brief History:

Transportation: 3/3/05 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 24 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Wallace, Vice Chair; Woods, Ranking Minority Member; Skinner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Campbell, Curtis, Dickerson, Ericksen, Hudgins, Jarrett, Kilmer, Lovick, Morris, Nixon, Rodne, Schindler, Sells, Shabro, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Takko, Upthegrove and Wood.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Buck and Hankins.

Staff: Teresa Berntsen (786-7301).

Background:

The Legislature created the Special License Plate Review Board (Board) in the 2003 session to review special vehicle license plate applications from governmental or nonprofit organizations in Washington. The Board must verify that the organization and proposed plate meet criteria set by state law, and then forward the approved application to the Legislature.

On February 14, 2005, the Board approved the Washington Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies' "We Love Our Pets" license plate application.

Summary of Bill:

The Department of Licensing must issue a special license plate displaying a symbol or artwork recognizing the Washington Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies.

An applicant for a "We Love Our Pets" license plate pays an initial fee of $40 and an annual renewal fee of $30. The initial revenue generated from the plate sales must be deposited into the Motor Vehicle Account until the state has been reimbursed for implementation costs. After reimbursement, the revenue must be deposited into the We Love Our Pets Account, to be used to enable the Washington Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies to promote and perform spay/neuter surgery of Washington pets in order to reduce pet overpopulation.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on March 1, 2005.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The sale of this plate will fund the "We Love our Pets" Account, which will help the Washington Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies to promote and perform spay/neuter surgery of Washington pets in order to reduce overpopulation.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Steve Pierce, Federation of Animal Care and Control.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.