HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. HB 1249

Streamlining registration/licensing of businesses         Public Hrg: 1/28/97 

Brief Title

Reps. Dunn/Costa (Req. Sec. of State)           Staff Contact: S. Lundin

Sponsor                                    Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7127

BACKGROUND:

The Business License Center, within the Department of Licensing, provides a single location where businesses may apply for a master license incorporating separate licenses issued by different state agencies.  The Business License Center is required to keep and distribute information about the separate licenses that may be incorporated into a master license.

Documents relating to corporations, including articles of incorporation, are filed with the secretary of state=s office.

The Department of Labor and Industries regulates and licenses a number of occupations, including electricians, and regulates and inspects a number of activities, such as the installation of mobile homes.

The Employment and Security Department administers the state=s unemployment compensation program and provides employment and training services.

The Department of Revenue assesses and collects various state taxes and adopts rules relating to those taxes.

SUMMARY:

The director of the Department of Licensing is authorized to contract with the federal Department of Internal Revenue Services to issue conditional federal employer identification numbers in conjunction with any application for a master business license.  If authorized, the director of the Department of Licensing may contract with different state agencies or local governments that participate in the master business licensing program to issue conditional federal employer identification numbers in conjunction with applications for maser business licenses.

                           Continued

HB 1249 - Page 2

The secretary of state, director of the Department of Labor and Industries, commissioner of Employment Security Department, and director of the Department of Revenue are also authorized to contract with the federal Department of Internal Revenue Services to issue conditional federal employer identification numbers in conjunction with applications for maser business licenses.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 1997.