DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING

[Filed November 3, 2021, 10:52 a.m.]

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 20-23-095.

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 308-96A-161 Fleet registration.

Hearing Location(s): On December 7, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., Meeting ID 895 6778 9091, Passcode 815089, Link to join https://dol-wa.zoom.us/j/89567789091?pwd=WlR5dUNTSHZrVG1obEhoOVpIWDdBdz09, Call in (will need Meeting ID and Passcode from above) 253-215-8782.

In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency, the department of licensing (DOL) will not provide a physical location for this hearing to promote social distancing and the safety of the citizens of Washington state. A telephonic public hearing, without a physical space, will be held instead. Presenters and staff will participate remotely. The public may call into the hearing using the information provided for the telephonic hearing.

Date of Intended Adoption: December 10, 2021.

Submit Written Comments to: Ellis Starrett, DOL, P.O. Box 9030, Olympia, WA 98507-9030, email rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov, fax 360-570-7827.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Ellis Starrett, phone 360-902-3846, email estarrett@dol.wa.gov, by December 1, 2021.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The amendment updates agency rules to allow rental car companies into the fleet registration process and makes technical changes to update the language to current processes.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: This rule change is necessary to streamline the registration process for rental car company vehicles in accordance with stakeholder input and internal process reviews. Removing the fleet registration exclusion in rule that currently applies to rental vehicles will ease the administrative burden for rental car companies and administrative costs for DOL.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 46.01.110.

Statute Being Implemented: Not applicable.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: Not applicable.

Name of Proponent: DOL, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Ellis Starrett, 1125 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, 360-902-3846; and Implementation: George Price, 1125 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, 360-902-0120.

A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.

A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting Ellis Starrett, DOL, P.O. Box 9030, Olympia, WA 98507-9030, phone 360-902-3846. This rule change eases the requirements on customers by providing another option for registering rental vehicles under the fleet registration process. This rule change does not require customers to utilize the fleet registration process for their vehicles. Customers who register rental vehicles may still use their existing processes to register rental vehicles if they so choose.

The proposed rule does not impose more-than-minor costs on businesses. Following is a summary of the agency's analysis showing how costs were calculated. Businesses should not be adversely impacted by this rule change. This rule change provides an additional option for rental car companies to register their rental vehicles but does not require such businesses to utilize the newly available procedure. To the extent that rental car companies choose to utilize the fleet registration process, their costs are expected to be lower because the fleet registration process enhances administrative efficiencies by bundling registrations for multiple vehicles together into a single process.

Rules and Policy Manager

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 11-20-066, filed 10/3/11, effective 11/3/11)

WAC 308-96A-161Fleet registration.

(1) What is the purpose of the fleet program? The purpose of the fleet program is to provide a process for business and individual registered owners to have the same expiration date for all of their vehicles and to receive a single billing notice.

(2) What types of fleet programs are available? There are two types of fleet programs, regular and permanent.

(3) What is the difference between a regular and a permanent fleet?

(a) Regular fleets consist of five or more vehicles, all currently titled and registered in exact name agreement (letter for letter and space for space). The owner has the option to purchase monthly gross weight license.

(b) Permanent fleets consist of ((fifty))50 or more vehicles, all currently titled and registered in exact name agreement (letter for letter and space for space). The owner must purchase gross weight for the entire year. Gross weight license may not be purchased month to month, but may be increased throughout the year.

(4) ((When do fleet vehicles expire? All fleet vehicles will be assigned a December 31 expiration date.

(5)))Who does a fleet owner contact to join the fleet program? Fleet owners who meet the qualifications may contact the department or their local vehicle licensing office to have a fleet account established and a fleet identifier code issued.

(((6)))(5)Are there any vehicles that may not be part of a fleet? Yes, the following vehicles may not be part of the fleet program:

(a) Snowmobiles;

(b) Trailers with permanent license plates issued under RCW 46.16A.450;

(d))) Any vehicle not required to renew annually; and

(((e)))(d) Prorate vehicles registered under proportional registration as defined in chapter 46.87 RCW.

(((7)))(6)Will the department remove a fleet from the fleet program? Yes, the department will remove a fleet from the program at the request of the owner or if the number of registered vehicles in the fleet drops below the required minimum.

(((8)))(7)What happens to a fleet once it is removed from the fleet program? When a fleet is removed from the program the fleet identifier code will be removed from all of the vehicles in the fleet. The owner will then be required to renew them individually.