SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6140

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 6, 1996

Title:  An act relating to special license plates.

Brief Description:  Establishing a pet population control program.

Sponsors:  Senators Winsley, Schow, Haugen, Drew and Thibaudeau.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  1/16/96, 2/6/96 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6140 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Owen, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Goings, Morton, Oke, Prentice, Prince, Rasmussen, Schow, Sellar, Thibaudeau and Wood.

Staff:  Jennifer Joly (786-7305)

Background:  The Department of Licensing (DOL) is authorized to issue special license plates.  DOL also has authority to set the fee for special issuances, but does not have the ability to earmark the fees for specific, nonlicensing purposes.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Licensing must estimate its costs, both direct and indirect, to create, design and procure the first minimum order of a special license plate series authorized.  Upon DOL authorizing a special license plate series, the requesting party pays DOL the estimated costs associated with the first minimum order, and maintenance of a minimum inventory for additional sales.  Payments from the requesting party are deposited in a special license plate account for production costs associated with the requested license plate series.

DOL must develop a form to facilitate the pre-sale of special license plates.

In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application, registration, and renewal registration of a motor vehicle, DOL may collect an additional fee from the holder of a special license plate.  The additional fee is set by the requesting party.  The State Treasurer, upon request of DOL, may create accounts for deposit of the additional fees.  The proceeds from the fees are remitted to the requesting party on a quarterly basis.  If the requesting party opts not to set an additional fee, the up to $35 fee payable to the motor vehicle fund applies.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Rather than creating a new account for fees associated with an animal population control license plate, DOL is given authority to request that the Treasurer create accounts for all requesting parties that meet the criteria and that have pre-paid DOL's costs associated with the first minimum order and maintenance of a minimum inventory of the requested license plate series.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on January 1, 1997.

Testimony For:  This bill will have the effect of preventing the destruction of thousands of animals each year.  It is good public policy and its is humane.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Winsley, prime sponsor; Jeanne Werner, Pierce County Humane Society; Rosanne Galak, citizen; Lisa Wathne, PAWS; Nancy Remington, citizen; Susan Beauregard, Thurston County Animal Services; Will Anderson, PAWS; Greg Hanon, Veterinarians Assn.