BILL REQ. #:  S-0472.2 

Read first time 01/24/13.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to the discover pass; amending RCW 46.16A.090; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature intends to provide a convenient method for users of state recreational lands to purchase the annual discover pass at the time of annual vehicle relicensing. By providing this option for purchasing the discover pass, the legislature intends to foster greater participation in the annual pass program and provide for a more adequate and stable source of funding for the maintenance and operation of state parks and other state recreational facilities.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.16A.090 and 2012 c 261 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director must provide an opportunity for a vehicle owner to make a voluntary donation and to purchase a discover pass as provided in this section when applying for an initial or renewal vehicle registration.
     (2)(a) A vehicle owner who registers a vehicle under this chapter may donate one dollar or more to the organ and tissue donation awareness account to promote the donation of organs and tissues under the uniform anatomical gift act as described in chapter 68.64 RCW. The donation of one or more dollars is voluntary and may be refused by the vehicle owner.
     (b) The department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director must:
     (i) Ask a vehicle owner applying for a vehicle registration if the owner would like to donate one dollar or more;
     (ii) Inform a vehicle owner of the option for organ and tissue donations as required under RCW 46.20.113; and
     (iii) Make information booklets or other informational material available regarding the importance of organ and tissue donations to vehicle owners.
     (c) All reasonable costs associated with the creation of the donation program created under this section must be paid proportionally or by another agreement by a participating Washington state organ procurement organization established for organ and tissue donation awareness purposes by the Washington state organ procurement organizations. For the purposes of this section, "reasonable costs" and "Washington state organ procurement organization" have the same meaning as in RCW 68.64.010.
     (3) The department must collect from a vehicle owner who pays a vehicle license fee under RCW 46.17.350(1) (a), (d) through (l), (n), (o), or (q) or who registers a vehicle under RCW 46.16A.455 with a declared gross weight of twelve thousand pounds or less a voluntary donation of five dollars. The donation may not be collected from any vehicle owner actively opting not to participate in the donation program. The department must ensure that the opt-out donation under this section is clear, visible, and prominently displayed in both paper and online vehicle registration renewals. Notification of intent to not participate in the donation program must be provided annually at the time of vehicle registration renewal. The donation must be deposited in the state parks renewal and stewardship account established in RCW 79A.05.215 to be used for the operation and maintenance of state parks.
     (4)(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a vehicle owner who registers a vehicle under this chapter ((may)) must purchase a discover pass for the price amount established in RCW 79A.80.020. Purchase of a discover pass is ((voluntary by the vehicle owner)) not required where the owner affirms in the registration renewal that any of the following apply:
     (i) That the vehicle will not be used to access a state park or other state recreational facility requiring the display of a discover pass;
     (ii) That the owner plans to purchase a discover pass or day pass at a later time if the vehicle will be used to access a facility requiring a pass; or
     (iii) That a discover pass has already been obtained for the vehicle and is valid for at least the next succeeding six months from the vehicle license renewal date.
     (b) The department must inform the owner in the vehicle registration renewal form that a discover pass may be used for two vehicles. The discover pass fee must be deposited in the recreation access pass account created in RCW 79A.80.090. The department, county auditor((,)) or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director is not responsible for delivering a purchased discover pass to a motor vehicle owner. The agencies, as defined in RCW 79A.80.010, must deliver the purchased discover pass to a motor vehicle owner.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act takes effect November 1, 2013.