SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1152

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Law & Justice, March 30, 1995

                  Ways & Means, April 3, 1995

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

Brief Description:  Changing fees regarding concealed pistol licenses.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Representatives Pennington, Buck, Smith, Sherstad, Beeksma, Hargrove, Campbell, Chappell, Basich, Sheldon, Backlund, L. Thomas, Thompson, Foreman, Benton, McMorris, Robertson, Goldsmith, McMahan, Chandler, Clements, Mulliken, Johnson, D. Schmidt, B. Thomas, Delvin, Koster, Hymes, Skinner, Mielke and Padden).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Law & Justice:  3/27/95, 3/30/95 [DPA].

Ways & Means:  4/3/95 [DPA (LAW)]

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Smith, Chair; Hargrove, Haugen, Johnson, Long, McCaslin, Quigley, Roach and Schow.

Staff:  Cynthia Runger (786-7717)

Background:  With limited exceptions, a person is required to obtain a license before carrying a concealed pistol.  An application for a concealed pistol license requires a fingerprint and criminal background check.  A license must be renewed every four years.

Prior to 1994, the fee for an original license was $23, the fee for a renewal license was $15, and a late fee of $10 was assessed for a license not renewed within 90 days of expiration.

In 1994, all of the concealed pistol licensing fees were increased as follows: an original license fee was increased from $23 to $50; a renewal license fee was increased from $15 to $50; and the late penalty was increased to $20.

As of October 1, 1994, the federal government has begun to charge local issuing authorities a fee of $24 for each fingerprint check done in connection with a concealed pistol license application.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The validity of a concealed pistol license is expanded from four years to five years.  Concealed pistol license fees are as follows:

1.An original four-year license costs $36 with the money distributed as follows:  $15 to the state general fund; $4 to the local fingerprinting agency; $14 to the local issuing authority; and $3 to the firearms range account.

2.A renewal license costs $32 with the money distributed as follows:  $15 to the state general fund; $14 to the issuing authority; and $3 to the firearms range account.

3.The fee for a late renewal is $10 with the money distributed as follows:  $3 to the state wildlife fund; and $7 to the issuing authority.

Local issuing authorities are allowed to pass on to applicants the FBI fee for fingerprint checks.  A $10 replacement fee is imposed for lost or damaged licenses.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  Fees for the original concealed pistol license are slightly greater in the amended bill.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:   Available.

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

Testimony For:  Many people, particularly the elderly and single parents, cannot afford the fee for a concealed pistol license.  The current fees are just designed to generate government revenue.

Testimony Against:  The fee amounts to only $12.25 per year, and even now is not enough to cover the cost to local governments for processing applications.  Taxpayers should not be subsidizing license holders.

Testified:  Representative Pennington, original prime sponsor; Seldon Prentice, Mothers Against Violence (con); Brian Judy, NRA (pro); Greg Dahlgren, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (pro); Colonel Mel, citizen (pro); Barry Shaw, Washington Coalition of Ceasefire (con); Joe Waldron, WA State Rifle and Pistol Association (pro); Joyce Boss, Women for Defense Rights (pro); Terry Jennings, citizen (pro).

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended by Committee on Law & Justice.

  Signed by Senators Rinehart, Chair; Loveland, Vice Chair; Bauer, Cantu, Drew, Finkbeiner, Gaspard, Hargrove, Hochstatter, Johnson, Long, McDonald, Pelz, Quigley, Roach, Sheldon, Snyder, Strannigan, Sutherland and West.

Staff:  Linda Brownell (786-7913)

Testimony For:  This bill is a compromise to reduce the price of licenses and the loss of revenue to the firearms range account.  This is a fair tradeoff.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Joe Waldron.