SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5514

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 22, 1995

Title:  An act relating to posting of motor vehicle fuel tax rates.

Brief Description:  Posting fuel tax rates.

Sponsors:  Senators Schow, Roach, Prince, Morton, Wood, Rasmussen, Long, Oke, Finkbeiner, Smith, Hargrove, Johnson, McCaslin and Owen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/8/95, 2/21/95, 2/22/95 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5514 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Owen, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Fairley, Kohl, Morton, Oke, Prentice, Rasmussen, Schow and Wood.

Staff:  Brian McMorrow (786-7304)

Background:  The state and federal government impose taxes on the sale of motor vehicle fuels. Currently, the federal gas tax is 18.4 cents and the state motor vehicle fuel tax is 23 cents.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Beginning October 1, 1995, operators of service stations must post in a conspicuous place a least one sign that identifies state and federal fuel tax rates.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute requires each operator of a gas station to post a sign near the fuel pumps by October 1995.  Operators are responsible for making and posting the signs.  The original bill required the Department of Licensing to provide operators with small decals with the taxes posted on them.  It also required the operators to post the decals on the pumps.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Taxpayers need to know how much state and federal tax they are paying when they buy fuel for their cars.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Schow, prime sponsor.