5248-S

AN ACT Relating to Puget Sound license plates; amending RCW 46.16.313; reenacting and amending RCW 43.79A.040; adding new sections to chapter 90.70 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 90.70 RCW to read as follows:

The Puget Sound license plate program is created to provide a means for citizens to support efforts to protect Puget Sound, both financially and by displaying a phrase or symbol on the license plate of their vehicles.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 90.70 RCW to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, as used in sections 1 and 3 of this act, "Puget Sound license plate" means a vehicle license plate issued pursuant to RCW 46.16.301 displaying a phrase or symbol supporting efforts to protect Puget Sound.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 90.70 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The Puget Sound license plate account is established in the treasurer's trust fund. All receipts from Puget Sound license plates authorized under RCW 46.16.301 shall be deposited in the Puget Sound license plate account.

(2) The money credited to the Puget Sound license plate account shall be used, after appropriation:

(a) To implement the Puget Sound water quality management plan and for payment of expenses incurred in the issuance and sale of bonds, the proceeds of which shall be used to implement the Puget Sound water quality management plan; and

(b) For the payment of expenses incurred by the department of licensing in the production, sale, issuance, and administration of the Puget Sound license plate program.

Sec. 4. RCW 46.16.313 and 1995 3rd sp.s. c 1 s 103 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department may establish a fee for each type of special license plates issued under RCW 46.16.301(1) (a), (b), or (c) in an amount calculated to offset the cost of production of the special license plates and the administration of this program. The fee shall not exceed thirty-five dollars and is in addition to all other fees required to register and license the vehicle for which the plates have been requested. All such additional special license plate fees collected by the department shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the motor vehicle fund.

(2) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application, registration, and renewal registration of a motor vehicle, the holder of a collegiate license plate shall pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds, minus the cost of plate production, shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the funds to the appropriate collegiate license plate fund as provided in RCW 28B.10.890.

(3) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application, registration, and renewal registration of a motor vehicle, the holder of a special baseball stadium license plate shall pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds, minus the cost of plate production, shall be distributed to a county for the purpose of paying the principal and interest payments on bonds issued by the county to construct a baseball stadium, as defined in RCW 82.14.0485, including reasonably necessary preconstruction costs, while the taxes are being collected under RCW 82.14.360. After this date, the state treasurer shall credit the funds to the state general fund.

(4) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application, registration, and renewal registration of a motor vehicle, the holder of a Puget Sound license plate shall pay a fee not to exceed thirty-five dollars. The proceeds shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the funds to the Puget Sound license plate account as provided in section 3 of this act.

(5) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, as used in this section, "Puget Sound license plate" means a vehicle license plate issued pursuant to RCW 46.16.301 displaying a phrase or symbol supporting efforts to protect Puget Sound.

Sec. 5. RCW 43.79A.040 and 1995 c 394 s 2 and 1995 c 365 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) Money in the treasurer's trust fund may be deposited, invested and reinvested by the state treasurer in accordance with RCW 43.84.080 in the same manner and to the same extent as if the money were in the state treasury.

(2) All income received from investment of the treasurer's trust fund shall be set aside in an account in the treasury trust fund to be known as the investment income account.

(3) The investment income account may be utilized for the payment of purchased banking services on behalf of treasurer's trust funds including, but not limited to, depository, safekeeping, and disbursement functions for the state treasurer or affected state agencies. The investment income account is subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for payments to financial institutions. Payments shall occur prior to distribution of earnings set forth in subsection (4) of this section.

(4)(a) Monthly, the state treasurer shall distribute the earnings credited to the investment income account to the state general fund except under (b) and (c) of this subsection.

(b) The following accounts and funds shall receive their proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance for the period: The agricultural local fund, the American Indian scholarship endowment fund, the energy account, the fair fund, the game farm alternative account, the Puget Sound license plate account, the grain inspection revolving fund, the rural rehabilitation account, and the self-insurance revolving fund. However, the earnings to be distributed shall first be reduced by the allocation to the state treasurer's service fund pursuant to RCW 43.08.190.

(c) The following accounts and funds shall receive eighty percent of their proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance for the period: The advanced right of way revolving fund, the federal narcotics asset forfeitures account, the high occupancy vehicle account, and the local rail service assistance account.

(5) In conformance with Article II, section 37 of the state Constitution, no trust accounts or funds shall be allocated earnings without the specific affirmative directive of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The department shall not begin issuance of Puget Sound license plates before July 1, 1996.