H-4354

AN ACT Relating to business licenses; amending RCW 19.02.020, 19.02.075, 19.02.080, 19.02.085, and 19.80.075; adding a new section to chapter 19.02 RCW; repealing RCW 19.80.035; and providing an effective date.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 19.02.020 and 1982 c 182 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:

(1) "System" means the mechanism by which master licenses are issued and renewed, license and regulatory information is disseminated, and account data is exchanged by the agencies;

(2) "Business license center" means the business registration and licensing center established by this chapter and located in and under the administrative control of the department of licensing;

(3) "Board of review" means the body established to review policies and rules adopted by the department of licensing for carrying out the provisions of this chapter;

(4) "Master application" means a document incorporating pertinent data from existing applications for licenses covered under this chapter;

(5) "Master license" means the single document designed for public display issued by the business license center which certifies state agency license approval and which incorporates the endorsements for individual licenses included in the master license system, which the state requires for any person subject to this chapter;

(6) "License" means the whole or part of any agency permit, license, certificate, approval, registration, charter, or any form or permission required by law, including agency rule, to engage in any activity;

(7) "Regulatory" means all licensing and other governmental or statutory requirements pertaining to business or professional activities;

(8) "Person" means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, association, cooperative, corporation, nonprofit organization, state or local government agency, and any other organization required to register with the state to do business in the state and to obtain one or more licenses from the state or any of its agencies;

(9) "Director" means the director of licensing;

(10) "Department" means the department of licensing; ((~~and~~))

(11) "Regulatory agency" means any state agency, board, commission, or division which regulates one or more professions, occupations, industries, businesses, or activities;

(12) "Renewal application" means a document used to collect pertinent data for renewal of licenses covered under this chapter; and

(13) "License information packet" means a collection of information about licensing requirements and application procedures custom-assembled for each request.

Sec. 2. RCW 19.02.075 and 1990 c 264 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

((~~The department shall collect a handling fee of twelve dollars on each original master license issued. The handling fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the general fund.~~)) Effective June 1, 1992, the department shall collect a fee of fifteen dollars on each master application, nine dollars on each renewal application, and five dollars on each license information packet. The fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the master license fund.

Sec. 3. RCW 19.02.080 and 1982 c 182 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

All fees collected under the system shall be deposited with the state treasurer. Upon issuance or renewal of the master license or supplemental licenses, the department shall distribute the fees, except for fees covered under section 4 of this act and for fees covered under RCW 19.80.075, to the appropriate accounts under the applicable statutes for those agencies' licenses.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 19.02 RCW to read as follows:

The master license fund is created in the state treasury. All receipts from handling and master license delinquency fees shall be deposited into the fund. Moneys in the fund may be spent only after appropriation beginning in fiscal year 1993. Expenditures from the fund may be used only to administer the master license services program.

Sec. 5. RCW 19.02.085 and 1989 c 170 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

To encourage timely renewal by applicants, a master license delinquency fee shall be imposed on licensees who fail to renew by the master license expiration date. The master license delinquency fee shall be the lesser of one hundred fifty dollars or fifty percent of a base comprised of the licensee's renewal fee minus corporate licensing taxes, corporation annual report fee, and any interest fees or penalties charged for late taxes or corporate renewals. The master license delinquency fee shall be added to the renewal fee and paid by the licensee before a master license shall be renewed. The delinquency fee shall be deposited in the ((~~general~~)) master license fund.

Sec. 6. RCW 19.80.075 and 1984 c 130 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

All fees collected by the department of licensing under this chapter shall be deposited with the state treasurer and credited to the ((~~general~~)) master license fund.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. RCW 19.80.035 and 1985 c 88 s 1 & 1984 c 130 s 4 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. This act shall take effect June 1, 1992.