SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESB 6566

              As Passed Senate, February 8, 1996

Title:  An act relating to snowmobile registration fees.

Brief Description:  Increasing the annual snowmobile registration fee.

Sponsors:  Senators Fraser, Loveland, Hochstatter and Newhouse.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ecology & Parks:  1/30/96 [DPA].

Passed Senate, 2/8/96, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Fraser, Chair; Hochstatter, McAuliffe, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff:  Kari Guy (786-7437)

Background:  All snowmobiles in the state must be registered annually with the Department of Licensing.  The annual fee is established by the State Parks and Recreation Commission, in consultation with the Snowmobile Advisory Committee.  The Snowmobile Advisory Committee includes representatives of snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, the Washington Association of Counties, and state agencies. 

The snowmobile regulation fee is currently set at $15, the maximum allowed in statute.  The registration fees are deposited in a dedicated account to be expended by the State Parks and Recreation Commission for the development and operation of snowmobile facilities, and for snowmobile safety and education programs.

Summary of Bill:  The annual snowmobile registration fee must be established by the State Parks and Recreation Commission in consultation with any statewide snowmobile user groups, in addition to the Snowmobile Committee. 

The $15 limit on the registration fee is deleted.  There is a fee increase of $2.50 on September 30, 1996, and on September 30, 1997, bringing the total registration fee to $20.  The fee may not be increased more often than every two years thereafter, and then only after consultation with the Snowmobile Advisory Committee and any statewide snowmobile user groups. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This fee increase was requested by snowmobilers because the current budget is not keeping up with inflation.  The snowmobile program is a widely supported user-paid program.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Mike Ryherd, Steve Lueck, Alan Matson, WA State Snowmobile Assn. (pro); Bill Vogler, WA State Assoc. of Counties (pro).

House Amendment(s):  The amended bill revises the sentence structure of the engrossed bill regarding the 1996 and 1997 fee increases.  After the 1997 fee increase, the commission cannot increase the fee again.