SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6373
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Transportation, February 8, 2016
Title: An act relating to modifying certain vehicle filing and service fees and fee distributions.
Brief Description: Modifying certain vehicle filing and service fees and fee distributions.
Sponsors: Senators King, Hobbs and Warnick.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/26/16, 2/08/16 [DP, DNP, w/oRec].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators King, Chair; Fain, Vice Chair, Budget; Hobbs, Ranking Minority Member; Liias, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Carlyle, Cleveland, Jayapal, Miloscia, Sheldon and Takko.
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senator Ericksen.
Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.
Signed by Senator Litzow.
Staff: Kellee Keegan (786-7429)
Background: A person who applies for a vehicle registration or for any other right to operate a vehicle on the highways must pay a $3 filing fee in addition to other fees and taxes required by law. A person who applies for a certificate of title must pay a $4 filing fee. Filing fee distribution is dependent on the entity that collects it.
The department, county auditor, or other agent or subagent appointed by the director of the Department of Licensing must also collect a service fee of:
$12 for changes to a certificate of title, with or without registration renewal, or for verification of an affidavit of a lost title other than at the time of certificate of title application or transfer.
$5 for a registration renewal, issuing a transit permit, or another service.
Service fees collected by counties are credited to the capital vessel replacement account for the construction or purchase of ferry vessels and to pay the principal and interest on bonds authorized for the construction or purchase of ferry vessels. Service fees collected by other agents and subagents are kept by those entities.
Summary of Bill: Increases the filing fee for vehicle registrations by $1.50. The distribution of the $1.50 increase is as follows:
$1 to be kept at the entity that collects the fee; and
$0.50 to be collected by the Department of Licensing to be redistributed at least quarterly, equally to all counties in Washington State.
Increases the service fees for the department, county auditor, or other agent, or subagent to:
$18 for changes to a certificate of title, with or without registration renewal, or for verification of an affidavit of a lost title other than at the time of the certificate of title application or transfer; and
$9 for a registration renewal, issuing a transit permit, or another service.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: January 1, 2017
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: It has been 20 years since county auditors had a fee increase and this fee increase will provide stable revenue. There are a growing number of counties that need fee reimbursement to cover the cost of business. Revenue from fees goes toward wages and this fee increase will help keep good employees from going to work elsewhere. It has been over seven years since the subagents have received a fee increase and costs for subagents have increased by 87 percent since then. This bill helps support the good work of auditors and county governments.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Josh Weiss, Washington State Association of Counties; Jerry Pettit, Kittitas County Auditor; Karen Martin, Walla Walla County; Corry Cavin, Washington Association of Vehicle Sub Agents; Char Winzler, Washington Association of Vehicle Sub Agents.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.