SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5795

               As Passed Senate, March 15, 1997

Title:  An act relating to licensing.

Brief Description:  Regulating vehicle and vessel licensing.

Sponsors:  Senators Benton and Haugen; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/5/97, 3/6/97 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/15/97, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Benton, Vice Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Goings, Haugen, Heavey, Horn, Jacobsen, Morton, Oke and Patterson.

Staff:  Jeff Doyle (786-7322)

Background:  The law requiring vehicle dealers to maintain a certain display area for their vehicles was repealed, but references to this display area requirement are still found in the statute regulating wholesale and listing dealers.

The Department of Licensing (DOL) was given the authority to deny a license to any tow truck operator whose application for license is a mere subterfuge to conceal the identity of the real applicant whose license has been denied, suspended or revoked.  This law has not been extended to cover vehicle and vessel dealers who attempt to obtain a license by concealing their real identity.

Summary of Bill:  References to the display area requirement are removed to reflect changes made by the Legislature in previous sessions.

DOL=s authority to deny an application to a person attempting to conceal his or her true identity because he or she has had a license denied, suspended or revoked is extended to vehicle and vessel dealers.

Appropriation:   None.

Fiscal Note:   Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This is a housekeeping bill that makes only technical corrections to the statutes.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Benton, prime sponsor; Robert F. Smith, Department of Licensing.