HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2155

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Transportation

Title:  An act relating to vehicle license fees.

Brief Description:  Revising provisions relating to refunding of vehicle license fees.

Sponsors:  Representatives Benton, Hargrove, Pennington and McMahan.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Transportation:  1/30/96 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 22 members:  Representatives K. Schmidt, Chairman; Benton, Vice Chairman; Mitchell, Vice Chairman; Hatfield, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Backlund; Blanton; Brown; Buck; Cairnes; Elliot; Hankins; Horn; Johnson; McMahan; Ogden; Patterson; Robertson; Romero; D. Schmidt; Scott; Sterk and Tokuda.

Staff:  Jeff Doyle (786-7322).

Background:  The Department of Licensing (DOL) has limited authority to issue motor vehicle excise tax refunds or refunds of vessel registration fees.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Licensing may refund motor vehicle excises taxes and vessel registration fees in the following circumstances:

(1)if the vehicle or vessel for which the renewal license is purchased is destroyed before the beginning date of the registration period;

(2)if the registered vehicle or vessel is permanently moved from the state either before the registration period begins or during the registration period (in the latter case, only a pro rata share of the taxes and fees is refunded); or

(3)if the vehicle or vessel license is purchased after the owner sold the vehicle or vessel.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Situations in which a vehicle owner can apply for a refund of the MVET are expanded.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  DOL issues refunds in very narrow circumstances.  This bill is a fairness issue and allows refunds when people move out of state.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Don Benton, Prime Sponsor; and Nancy Kelly, Department of Licensing.