1197-S AMS TRAN S3478.1
SHB 1197 - S COMM AMD
By Committee on Transportation
ADOPTED 04/10/2019
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
Sec. 1. "RCW 46.18.245 and 2017 c 24 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) A registered owner who is an eligible family member of a member of the United States armed forces who died while in service to his or her country, or as a result of his or her service, may apply to the department for special gold star license plates for use on a motor vehicle. The registered owner must:
(a) Be a resident of this state;
(b) Provide proof to the satisfaction of the department that the registered owner is an eligible family member, which includes:
(i) A widow;
(ii) A widower;
(iii) A biological parent;
(iv) An adoptive parent;
(v) A stepparent;
(vi) An adult in loco parentis or foster parent;
(vii) A biological child;
(viii) An adopted child; or
(ix) A sibling;
(c) Provide certification from the Washington state department of veterans affairs that the registered owner qualifies for the special license plate under this section; and
(d) Be recorded as the registered owner of the motor vehicle on which the gold star license plates will be displayed((; and
(e) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, pay all fees and taxes required by law for registering the motor vehicle)).
(2)(((a) In addition to the license plate fee exemption in subsection (3)(b) of this section, the widow or widower recipient of a gold star license plate under this section is also exempt from annual vehicle registration fees for one personal use motor vehicle.
(b))) In lieu of applying for a gold star license plate under this section, an eligible widow or widower under subsection (1)(b) of this section may apply for a standard issue license plate or any qualifying special license plate for one personal use motor vehicle and be exempt from ((both))payment of annual vehicle registration fees, motor vehicle excise taxes, and license plate fees for that vehicle.
(3)(a) For a widow, a widower, a biological parent, an adoptive parent, a stepparent, or an adult in loco parentis or foster parent applicant, a gold star license plate((s)) must be issued:
(((a)))(i) Only for motor vehicles owned by qualifying applicants; and
(((b)))(ii) Without payment of any vehicle license fees, license plate fees, and motor vehicle excise taxes for one motor vehicle. For other motor vehicles, a qualified widow, a widower, a biological parent, an adoptive parent, a stepparent, or an adult in loco parentis or foster parent applicant may purchase gold star license plates without payment of any license plate fees, but the applicant must pay all other fees and taxes required by law for registering the motor vehicle.
(b) For a biological child, an adopted child, or a sibling applicant, a gold star license plate must be issued:
(i) Only for motor vehicles owned by qualifying applicants; and
(ii) Without payment of any license plate fees but the applicant must pay all other fees and taxes required by law for registering the motor vehicle.
(4) Gold star license plates must be replaced, free of charge, if the license plates become lost, stolen, damaged, defaced, or destroyed.
(5) Gold star license plates may be transferred from one motor vehicle to another motor vehicle owned by the eligible family member, as described in subsection (1) of this section, upon application to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director."
SHB 1197 - S COMM AMD
By Committee on Transportation
ADOPTED 04/10/2019
On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "plates;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "and amending RCW 46.18.245."
EFFECT: The expansion of the vehicle license fees and motor vehicle excise tax exemption is limited to a widow, widower, biological parent, adoptive parent, stepparent, or an adult in loco parentis or foster parent Gold Star license applicants. Clarifying language is added that limits the fee exemption provisions to one motor vehicle. For biological and adopted children, and sibling applicants, current law is maintained, which means that they would be exempt from license plate fees, but not exempt from other vehicle license fees or motor vehicle excise taxes for their Gold Star license.
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