6089-S

AN ACT Relating to institutions of higher education collegiate license plates; amending RCW 46.16.332; adding new sections to chapter 46.16 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW; and repealing RCW 46.16.323.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 46.16.332 and 1990 c 250 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The director may adopt fees to be charged by the department for emblems issued by the department under RCW 46.16.319 ((~~and 46.16.323~~)).

(2) The fee for each remembrance emblem issued under RCW 46.16.319 shall be in an amount sufficient to offset the costs of production of remembrance emblems and the administration of that program by the department plus an amount for use by the department of veterans affairs, not to exceed a total fee of twenty-five dollars per emblem. ((The fee for each special vehicle license plate emblem issued under RCW 46.16.323 shall be an amount sufficient to offset the cost of production of the emblems and of administering the special vehicle license plate emblem program.))

(3) The veterans' emblem account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts by the department from the issuance of remembrance emblems under RCW 46.16.319 shall be deposited into this fund. Expenditures from the fund may be used only for the costs of production of remembrance emblems and administration of the program by the department of licensing, with the balance used only by the department of veterans affairs for projects that pay tribute to those living veterans and to those who have died defending freedom in our nation's wars and conflicts and for the upkeep and operations of existing memorials, as well as for planning, acquiring land for, and constructing future memorials. Only the director of licensing, the director of veterans affairs, or their designees may authorize expenditures from the fund. The fund is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures.

(((4) The special vehicle license plate emblem account is established in the state treasury. Fees collected by the department for emblems issued under RCW 46.16.323 shall be deposited into the special vehicle license plate emblem account to be used only to offset the costs of administering the special vehicle license plate emblem program.))

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, as used in sections 3 through 5 of this act collegiate license plates means license plates that display a depiction of the name and mascot or symbol of a state university, regional university, or state college as defined in RCW 28B.10.016. Collegiate license plates shall consist of numbers and letters not exceeding seven positions as assigned by the department.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:

Effective January 1, 1995, a state university, regional university, or state college as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 may make application to the department, in a form prescribed by the department, and request the department to issue a series of collegiate license plates depicting the name and mascot or symbol of the college or university.

The department and the president of the affected institution of higher education have the responsibility to determine the design and whether to create or issue a requested series of collegiate license plates. A proposed design of the name and mascot or symbol to be used on the collegiate license plate shall be provided by the president of the requesting college or university or the president's designee and shall conform to all requirements of the department for the type of vehicle license plates to be issued. Collegiate license plates issued under this chapter shall be displayed on the department's officially designated mountain background design.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Any person who is a registered owner of a motor vehicle that is required to display two motor vehicle license plates and is registered with the department, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW may, upon payment of a fee prescribed in section 5 of this act, apply to the department for collegiate license plates for the vehicle. Application shall be on a form furnished by the department and in the manner prescribed by rule of the director. Such license plates shall be affixed to the motor vehicle in lieu of the regular license plates.

(2) Collegiate license plates may only be issued to the registered owner of the motor vehicle on which the license plates will be displayed.

(3) An applicant for an initial or renewal collegiate license plate shall file an application on a form and in such manner as the department may prescribed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:

(1) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon registration and renewal registration of a motor vehicle issued a collegiate license plate, the owner of the motor vehicle shall pay a fee of thirty dollars for the privilege of owning the collegiate license plate.

(2) Collegiate license plates that are not renewed shall be removed from the vehicle and new license plates, applicable to the vehicle, shall be purchased as provided for in this chapter.

(3) If a person who has been issued collegiate license plates applies to the department for transfer of such plates to a subsequently acquired eligible motor vehicle a transfer fee of five dollars shall be charged in addition to all other appropriate fees.

(4) If a collegiate license plate has been lost, destroyed, stolen, or damaged to the extent it is no longer legible, the applicant shall make application to the department for replacement plates or new license plates applicable for the vehicle and pay a replacement plate fee as provided for in this chapter.

(5) The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected in subsection (1) of this section for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds minus the cost of plate production shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the funds to the collegiate license plate accounts as provided for in section 10 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The collegiate license plate fund program is created.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The purpose of the program created in section 6 of this act is to provide a means for alumni and friends of state colleges and universities to support their respective institutions of higher education both financially and by displaying a collegiate name and mascot or symbol on the license plate of their vehicles.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "College or university" means a state university, regional university, or state college as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.

(2) "Collegiate license plate" means a vehicle license plate issued pursuant to sections 2 through 5 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. Each college or university may make application to the department of licensing and request the department to issue a series of collegiate license plates as provided in sections 3 through 5 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. (1) A collegiate license plate account is established in the state treasury for each college or university that develops and administers a collegiate license plate program. All receipts from collegiate license plates authorized under sections 2 through 5 of this act shall be deposited in the appropriate college or university account and made available to the appropriate college or university.

(2) The money credited to each college and university in accordance with subsection (1) of this section each fiscal year shall be used for student scholarships.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. RCW 46.16.323 and 1990 c 250 s 7 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. Sections 6 through 10 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 28B RCW.