HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5047

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Rasmussen, Saling and Johnson)

Issuing special license plates to spouses of deceased POW's.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (23)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Betrozoff, Brough, Cantwell, Cooper, Dellwo, Doty, Fisch, Fisher, Gallagher, Hankins, Heavey, Kremen, Meyers, Prince, Schmidt, C. Smith, D. Sommers, Spanel, Todd, Vekich, J. Williams and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Terry Michalson (786-7315)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 7, 1987

BACKGROUND:

People currently receiving special free license plates include permanently disabled veterans and Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.  Special license plates which may be purchased from the department include license plates for (1) vehicles more than 30 years old, (2) amateur radio operators, (3) handicapped persons meeting certain criteria, and (4) personalized license plates.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Licensing shall issue a set of special vehicle license plates to the surviving spouse of any deceased former prisoner of war for use on a passenger vehicle.  The plates shall be issued free of charge, and may be transferred to another vehicle registered to the surviving spouse in the same manner as the transfer of a personalized license plate. The surviving spouse must have been married to the deceased former prisoner of war at the time of incarceration.

Proof of a service-connected disability rating may be obtained from the discharging military service as well as the Veterans Administration

The director of the Department of Licensing shall approve the distinctive design of the special plate.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Senator Jerry Saling; Chuck Towne, American Ex-Prisoners of War.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The request will permit prisoner of war special license plates, along with the license fee exemptions, to be transferred to the surviving husband or wife of a deceased prisoner of war.  It is unfair that a widow or widower be required to relicense a vehicle of a prisoner of war at his or her death.  That person should have the right to continue to receive this privilege.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.