HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2417

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                        Law & Justice

Title:  An act relating to fees for concealed pistol licenses.

Brief Description:  Revising the distribution of concealed pistol license fees.

Sponsors:  Representatives Delvin, Sterk, Thompson, Sheahan, Smith, Campbell, Pennington and Mulliken.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Law & Justice:  1/24/96, 1/30/96 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 16 members:  Representatives Sheahan, Chairman; Delvin, Vice Chairman; Hickel, Vice Chairman; Dellwo, Ranking Minority Member; Costa, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Carrell; Chappell; Cody; Lambert; McMahan; Morris; Murray; Robertson; Smith and Sterk.

Staff:  Bill Perry (786-7123).

Background:  Concealed pistol licenses are issued for five years, and fees for licenses are distributed among various entities and programs.

An original license costs $36, with the money distributed as follows: 

o$15 to the state general fund;

o$4 to the local fingerprinting agency;

o$14 to the local issuing authority; and

o$3 to the firearms range account.

A renewal license costs $32, with the money distributed as follows:

 o$15 to the state general fund;

o$14 to the issuing authority; and

o$3 to the firearms range account.

Summary of Bill:  The distribution of the fee for concealed pistol licenses is changed.  For both original licenses and renewals, the amount that goes to the state general fund is reduced by $10, and the amount that goes to the local issuing authority is increased by $10.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 24, 1996.

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

Testimony For:  The bill will allow local governments to come closer to covering the cost of administering the concealed pistol license program.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Delvin, prime sponsor; Kathy Gerke, Association of Washington Cities (pro); Kurt Sharar, Washington State Association of Counties (pro); Brian Judy, National Rifle Association (no position); Joe Waldren, Gun Owners Action League (no position); and Colonel Mel Pfankuche, Colonel Mel Pfankuche & Associates, Inc. (with comments).