2021 Regular Session

ByRepresentatives Walsh, J. Johnson, Chase, and Lovick

Read first time 01/26/21.Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to creating Patches pal special license plates; reenacting and amending RCW 46.17.220, 46.18.200, and 46.68.420; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 46.17.220 and 2020 c 129 s 1 and 2020 c 93 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application for a vehicle registration in chapter 46.16A RCW, the holder of a special license plate shall pay the appropriate special license plate fee as listed in this section.

PLATE TYPE	INITIAL FEE	RENEWAL FEE	DISTRIBUTED UNDER
(1) 4-H	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(2) Amateur radio license	$ 5.00	N/A	RCW 46.68.070
(3) Armed forces	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.425
(4) Breast cancer awareness	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.425
(5) Collector vehicle	$ 35.00	N/A	RCW 46.68.030
(6) Collegiate	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.430
(7) Endangered wildlife	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.425
(8) Fred Hutch	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(9) Gonzaga University alumni association	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(10) Helping kids speak	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(11) Horseless carriage	$ 35.00	N/A	RCW 46.68.030
(12) Keep kids safe	$ 45.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.425
(13) Law enforcement memorial	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(14) Military affiliate radio system	$ 5.00	N/A	RCW 46.68.070
(15) Music matters	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(16) Patches pal	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(17) Professional firefighters and paramedics	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((17)))(18) Purple Heart	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.425
(((18)))(19) Ride share	$ 25.00	N/A	RCW 46.68.030
(((19)))(20) San Juan Islands	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((20)))(21) Seattle Mariners	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((21)))(22) Seattle NHL hockey	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((22)))(23) Seattle Seahawks	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((23)))(24) Seattle Sounders FC	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((24)))(25) Seattle Storm	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((25)))(26) Seattle University	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((26)))(27) Share the road	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((27)))(28) Ski & ride Washington	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((28)))(29) Square dancer	$ 40.00	N/A	RCW 46.68.070
(((29)))(30) State flower	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((30)))(31) Volunteer firefighters	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((31)))(32) Washington apples	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((32)))(33) Washington farmers and ranchers	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((33)))(34) Washington lighthouses	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((34)))(35) Washington state aviation	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((35)))(36) Washington state parks	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.425
(((36)))(37) Washington state wrestling	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((37)))(38) Washington tennis	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((38)))(39) Washington's fish collection	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.425
(((39)))(40) Washington's national parks	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((40)))(41) Washington's wildlife collection	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.425
(((41)))(42) We love our pets	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.420
(((42)))(43) Wild on Washington	$ 40.00	$ 30.00	RCW 46.68.425

Sec. 2. RCW 46.18.200 and 2020 c 129 s 2 and 2020 c 93 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) Special license plate series reviewed and approved by the department:

(a) May be issued in lieu of standard issue or personalized license plates for vehicles required to display one and two license plates unless otherwise specified;

(b) Must be issued under terms and conditions established by the department;

(d) Must display a symbol or artwork approved by the department.

(2) The department approves and shall issue the following special license plates, subject to subsection (5) of this section:

LICENSE PLATE	DESCRIPTION, SYMBOL, OR ARTWORK
4-H	Displays the "4-H" logo.
Armed forces collection	Recognizes the contribution of veterans, active duty military personnel, reservists, and members of the national guard, and includes six separate designs, each containing a symbol representing a different branch of the armed forces to include army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, and national guard.
Breast cancer awareness	Displays a pink ribbon symbolizing breast cancer awareness.
Endangered wildlife	Displays a symbol or artwork symbolizing endangered wildlife in Washington state.
Fred Hutch	Displays the Fred Hutch logo.
Gonzaga University alumni association	Recognizes the Gonzaga University alumni association.
Helping kids speak	Recognizes an organization that supports programs that provide no-cost speech pathology programs to children.
Keep kids safe	Recognizes efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Law enforcement memorial	Honors law enforcement officers in Washington killed in the line of duty.
Music matters	Displays the "Music Matters" logo.
Patches pal	Displays the likenesses of the J.P. Patches and Gertrude characters from the J.P. Patches show.
Professional firefighters and paramedics	Recognizes professional firefighters and paramedics who are members of the Washington state council of firefighters.
San Juan Islands	Displays a symbol or artwork recognizing the San Juan Islands.
Seattle Mariners	Displays the "Seattle Mariners" logo.
Seattle NHL hockey	Displays the logo of the Seattle NHL hockey team.
Seattle Seahawks	Displays the "Seattle Seahawks" logo.
Seattle Sounders FC	Displays the "Seattle Sounders FC" logo.
Seattle Storm	Displays the "Seattle Storm" logo.
Seattle University	Recognizes Seattle University.
Share the road	Recognizes an organization that promotes bicycle safety and awareness education.
Ski & ride Washington	Recognizes the Washington snowsports industry.
State flower	Recognizes the Washington state flower.
Volunteer firefighters	Recognizes volunteer firefighters.
Washington apples	Displays the Washington apple logo that recognizes the state's apple industry, the growers and shippers who produce and pack the world famous apples, and the tree fruit community.
Washington farmers and ranchers	Recognizes farmers and ranchers in Washington state.
Washington lighthouses	Recognizes an organization that supports selected Washington state lighthouses and provides environmental education programs.
Washington state aviation	Displays a Stearman biplane in the foreground with an image of Mount Rainier in the background.
Washington state parks	Recognizes Washington state parks as premier destinations of uncommon quality that preserve significant natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources.
Washington state wrestling	Promotes and supports college wrestling in the state of Washington.
Washington tennis	Builds awareness and year-round opportunities for tennis in Washington state. Displays a symbol or artwork recognizing tennis in Washington state.
Washington's fish collection	Recognizes Washington's fish.
Washington's national park fund	Builds awareness of Washington's national parks and supports priority park programs and projects in Washington's national parks, such as enhancing visitor experience, promoting volunteerism, engaging communities, and providing educational opportunities related to Washington's national parks.
Washington's wildlife collection	Recognizes Washington's wildlife.
We love our pets	Recognizes an organization that assists local member agencies of the federation of animal welfare and control agencies to promote and perform spay/neuter surgery on Washington state pets to reduce pet overpopulation.
Wild on Washington	Symbolizes wildlife viewing in Washington state.

(3) Applicants for initial and renewal professional firefighters and paramedics special license plates must show proof of eligibility by providing a certificate of current membership from the Washington state council of firefighters.

(4) Applicants for initial volunteer firefighters special license plates must (a) have been a volunteer firefighter for at least ten years or be a volunteer firefighter for one or more years and (b) have documentation of service from the district of the appropriate fire service. If the volunteer firefighter leaves firefighting service before ten years of service have been completed, the volunteer firefighter shall surrender the license plates to the department on the registration renewal date. If the volunteer firefighter stays in service for at least ten years and then leaves, the license plate may be retained by the former volunteer firefighter and as long as the license plate is retained for use the person will continue to pay the future registration renewals. A qualifying volunteer firefighter may have no more than one set of license plates per vehicle, and a maximum of two sets per applicant, for their personal vehicles. If the volunteer firefighter is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or a felony, the license plates must be surrendered upon conviction.

(5) The department shall not issue the Seattle NHL hockey special license plate until the department receives signature sheets satisfying the requirements identified in RCW 46.18.110(2)(f).

Sec. 3. RCW 46.68.420 and 2020 c 129 s 3 and 2020 c 93 s 3 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall:

(a) Collect special license plate fees established under RCW 46.17.220;

(b) Deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars for initial issue and two dollars for renewal issue for administration and collection expenses incurred by it; and

(2) The state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the motor vehicle fund until the department determines that the state has been reimbursed for the cost of implementing the special license plate. Upon determination by the department that the state has been reimbursed, the state treasurer shall credit the remaining special license plate fee amounts for each special license plate to the following appropriate account as created in this section in the custody of the state treasurer:

ACCOUNT	CONDITIONS FOR USE OF FUNDS
4-H programs	Support Washington 4-H programs
Fred Hutch	Support cancer research at the Fred Hutchinson cancer research center
Gonzaga University alumni association	Scholarship funds to needy and qualified students attending or planning to attend Gonzaga University
Helping kids speak	Provide free diagnostic and therapeutic services to families of children who suffer from a delay in language or speech development
Law enforcement memorial	Provide support and assistance to survivors and families of law enforcement officers in Washington killed in the line of duty and to organize, finance, fund, construct, utilize, and maintain a memorial on the state capitol grounds to honor those fallen officers
Lighthouse environmental programs	Support selected Washington state lighthouses that are accessible to the public and staffed by volunteers; provide environmental education programs; provide grants for other Washington lighthouses to assist in funding infrastructure preservation and restoration; encourage and support interpretive programs by lighthouse docents
Music matters awareness	Promote music education in schools throughout Washington
Patches pal	Provide funds to the Seattle children's hospital strong against cancer program
San Juan Islands programs	Provide funds to the Madrona institute
Seattle Mariners	Provide funds to the sports mentoring program and to support the Washington world fellows program in the following manner: (a) Seventy-five percent to the office of the lieutenant governor solely to administer the sports mentoring program established under RCW 43.15.100, to encourage youth who have economic needs or face adversities to experience spectator sports or get involved in youth sports, and (b) up to twenty-five percent to the office of the lieutenant governor solely to administer the Washington world fellows program, an equity focused program
Seattle NHL hockey	Provide funds to the NHL Seattle foundation and to support the boundless Washington program in the following manner: (a) Fifty percent to the NHL Seattle foundation, or its successor organization, to help marginalized youth succeed in life through increased access to sports and other opportunities; (b) twenty-five percent to the office of the lieutenant governor solely to administer the boundless Washington program to facilitate opportunities for young people with physical and sensory disabilities to enjoy and experience the outdoors; and (c) twenty-five percent to the NHL Seattle foundation, or its successor organization, for providing financial support to allow youth to participate in hockey
Seattle Seahawks	Provide funds to InvestED and to support the Washington world fellows program in the following manner: (a) Seventy-five percent, to InvestED, to encourage secondary students who have economic needs to stay in school, return to school, or get involved within their learning community; and (b) twenty-five percent to the office of the lieutenant governor solely to administer the Washington world fellows program, including the provision of fellowships
Seattle Sounders FC	Provide funds to Washington state mentors and the ((association of)) Washington ((generals))state leadership board created in RCW 43.15.030 in the following manner: (a) Seventy percent and the remaining proceeds, if any, to Washington state mentors, to increase the number of mentors in the state by offering mentoring grants throughout Washington state that foster positive youth development and academic success, with up to twenty percent of these proceeds authorized for program administration costs; and (b) up to thirty percent, not to exceed forty-thousand dollars annually as adjusted for inflation by the office of financial management, to the association of Washington generals, to develop Washington state educational, veterans, international relations, and civics projects and to recognize the outstanding public service of individuals or groups in the state of Washington
Seattle Storm	Provide funds to the Washington state legislative youth advisory council and the ((association of)) Washington ((generals))state leadership board created in RCW 43.15.030 in the following manner: Twenty-five thousand dollars per year of the net proceeds to the legislative youth advisory council, or its successor organization; and the remaining net proceeds on an annual basis, to the association of Washington generals for the purpose of providing grants to support and enhance athletic, recreational, and other opportunities for women and girls, and especially those with disabilities
Seattle University	Fund scholarships for students attending or planning to attend Seattle University
Share the road	Promote bicycle safety and awareness education in communities throughout Washington
Ski & ride Washington	Promote winter snowsports, such as skiing and snowboarding, and related programs, such as ski and ride safety programs, underprivileged youth ski and ride programs, and active, healthy lifestyle programs
State flower	Support Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens and provide for grants to other qualified nonprofit organizations' efforts to preserve rhododendrons
Volunteer firefighters	Receive and disseminate funds for purposes on behalf of volunteer firefighters, their families, and others deemed in need
Washington apples	Provide scholarship funding to the tree fruit industry's official charity, the Washington apple education foundation, which provides financial support, professional employment preparedness training, and mentorship to students with ties to the apple industry pursuing a higher education
Washington farmers and ranchers	Provide funds to the Washington FFA Foundation for educational programs in Washington state
Washington state aviation	Provide funds to the department of transportation to support infrastructure improvements at public use airports in Washington state
Washington state council of firefighters benevolent fund	Receive and disseminate funds for charitable purposes on behalf of members of the Washington state council of firefighters, their families, and others deemed in need
Washington state wrestling	Provide funds to the Washington state wrestling foundation to fund new and existing college wrestling programs
Washington tennis	Provide funds to cities to assist in the construction and maintenance of a public tennis facility with at least four indoor tennis courts. A city is eligible for construction funds if the city does not already have a public or private facility with at least four indoor tennis courts. Funds for construction must first be made available to the most populous eligible city, according to the most recent census, for a time period not to exceed five years after January 1, 2017. After the five-year time period, the funds for construction must be made available to the next most populous eligible city. Funds for the maintenance of a public tennis facility with at least four indoor tennis courts must first be made available to the first eligible city that utilizes funds for construction provided by chapter 16, Laws of 2016
Washington's national park fund	Build awareness of Washington's national parks and support priority park programs and projects in Washington's national parks, such as enhancing visitor experience, promoting volunteerism, engaging communities, and providing educational opportunities related to Washington's national parks
We love our pets	Support and enable the Washington federation of animal welfare and control agencies to promote and perform spay/neuter surgery of Washington state pets in order to reduce pet population

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the accounts described in subsection (2) of this section. The accounts are subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in this section, funds in the special license plate accounts described in subsection (2) of this section must be disbursed subject to the conditions described in subsection (2) of this section and under contract between the department and qualified nonprofit organizations that provide the services described in subsection (2) of this section.

(5) Funds from the Seattle Seahawks account may be provided to the lieutenant governor solely for the purpose of administering the Washington world fellows program. Of the amounts received by the lieutenant governor's office under this subsection, at least ninety percent must be provided as fellowships under the program.

(6) Beginning January 1, 2019, funds from the Seattle Mariners account may be provided to the office of lieutenant governor solely for the purpose of administering the sports mentoring program. Of the amounts received by the office of lieutenant governor, at least ninety percent must be applied towards services directly provided to youth participants.

(7) For the purposes of this section, a "qualified nonprofit organization" means a not-for-profit corporation operating in Washington that has received a determination of tax exempt status under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3). The qualified nonprofit organization must meet all the requirements under RCW 46.18.100(1).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:

"Patches pal license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the likenesses of the J.P. Patches and Gertrude characters from the J.P. Patches show.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act takes effect November 1, 2021.