S-4629.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6689

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By Senators Wood, Bauer, Prince, Sheldon, Drew, Zarelli, Winsley and Rasmussen

Read first time 01/24/96.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Extending the collegiate license plate program to all institutions of higher education.

    AN ACT Relating to collegiate license plates; amending RCW 46.04.127, 46.16.301, 46.16.324, and 28B.10.890; and providing an effective date.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 46.04.127 and 1994 c 194 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    "Collegiate license plates" means license plates that display a depiction of the name and mascot or symbol of ((a state university, regional university, or state college)) an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 46.16.301 and 1995 3rd sp.s. c 1 s 102 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The department may create, design, and issue special license plates that may be used in lieu of regular or personalized license plates for motor vehicles required to display two motor vehicle license plates, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW, upon terms and conditions established by the department.  The special plates may:

    (a) Denote the age or type of vehicle; or

    (b) Denote special activities or interests; or

    (c) Denote the status, or contribution or sacrifice for the United States, the state of Washington, or the citizens of the state of Washington, of a registered owner of that vehicle; or

    (d) Display a depiction of the name and mascot or symbol of a state ((university, regional university, or state college)) institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.

    (2) The department shall create, design, and issue a special baseball stadium license plate that may be used in lieu of regular or personalized license plates for motor vehicles required to display two motor vehicle license plates, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW, upon terms and conditions established by the department.  The special plates shall commemorate the construction of a baseball stadium, as defined in RCW 82.14.0485.  The department shall also issue to each recipient of a special baseball stadium license plate a certificate of participation in the construction of the baseball stadium.

    (3) The department has the sole discretion to determine whether or not to create, design, or issue any series of special license plates, other than the special baseball stadium license plate under subsection (2) of this section, and whether any interest or status merits the issuance of a series of special license plates.  In making this determination, the department shall consider whether or not an interest or status contributes or has contributed significantly to the public health, safety, or welfare of the citizens of the United States or of this state or to their significant benefit, or whether the interest or status is recognized by the United States, this state, or other states, in other settings or contexts.  The department may also consider the potential number of persons who may be eligible for the plates and the cost and efficiency of producing limited numbers of the plates.  The design of a special license plate shall conform to all requirements for plates for the type of vehicle for which it is issued, as provided elsewhere in this chapter.

    Sec. 3.  RCW 46.16.324 and 1994 c 194 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

    ((Effective January 1, 1995, a state university, regional university, or)) A state ((college)) institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 may apply to the department, in a form prescribed by the department, and request the department to issue a series of collegiate license plates depicting the name and mascot or symbol of the ((college or university)) institution, as submitted and approved for use by the requesting institution.

    Sec. 4.  RCW 28B.10.890 and 1994 c 194 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

    A collegiate license plate fund is established in the custody of the state treasurer for each ((college or university)) institution of higher education with a collegiate license plate program approved by the department (([of licensing])) of licensing under RCW 46.16.324.  All receipts from collegiate license plates authorized under RCW 46.16.301 shall be deposited in the appropriate local ((college or university)) institution nonappropriated, nonallotted fund.  Expenditures from the funds may be used only for student scholarships.  Only the president of the ((college or university)) institution of higher education or the president's designee may authorize expenditures from the fund.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  This act takes effect January 1, 1997, but the department of licensing and the appropriate authorities of the various institutions of higher education may take such action before that date to allow for its full implementation upon that date.

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