HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5591

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 House Committee On:

Transportation

Title: An act relating to exempting previously registered vehicles from the stolen vehicle check fee.

Brief Description: Exempting previously registered vehicles from the stolen vehicle check fee.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senator Schoesler).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 3/14/19, 3/27/19 [DP], 2/24/20, 2/26/20 [DP].

Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

  • Exempts an applicant from the stolen vehicle check fee if the applicant has previously registered a vehicle in Washington and maintained ownership of that vehicle while in another state or country.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 31 members: Representatives Fey, Chair; Wylie, 1st Vice Chair; Slatter, 2nd Vice Chair; Valdez, 2nd Vice Chair; Barkis, Ranking Minority Member; Walsh, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Young, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boehnke, Chambers, Chapman, Dent, Doglio, Duerr, Dufault, Entenman, Eslick, Goehner, Gregerson, Irwin, Kloba, Lovick, McCaslin, Mead, Orcutt, Ortiz-Self, Paul, Ramos, Riccelli, Shewmake, Van Werven and Volz.

Staff: Beth Redfield (786-7140).

Background:

Vehicles previously registered in another state or country are subject to a stolen vehicle check when being registered in Washington. In addition to other vehicle registration fees and taxes, out-of-state applicants for a Washington vehicle registration are required to pay a $15 processing fee for the stolen vehicle check.

The Department of Licensing (DOL) is required to conduct a stolen vehicle check through the National Crime Information Center when a registered vehicle owner is applying for a certificate of title or a registration for a vehicle that has been previously registered in another state or country. If the stolen vehicle check indicates that the vehicle is stolen, the DOL must immediately provide a report that the vehicle is stolen to the Washington State Patrol, and the applicant may not be issued a certificate of title or registration for the vehicle. If the stolen vehicle check indicates that the vehicle is not stolen, the applicant must be issued a certificate of title or a vehicle registration if the DOL is satisfied that all other requirements have been met.

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Summary of Bill:

An applicant is exempt from the $15 stolen vehicle check fee if the applicant had previously registered the vehicle in Washington and maintained ownership of the vehicle while it was registered in another state or country.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2020.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) None.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.