HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2201

                  As Amended by the Senate

Title:  An act relating to trip permit surcharges.

Brief Description:  Imposing a surcharge on trip permit fees.

Sponsors:  Representatives Fisher, Hankins, Ogden, K. Schmidt, Ericksen, Skinner, Radcliff and Mielke.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Transportation:  3/1/99, 3/2/99 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/15/99, 94-2.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate:  4/25/99, 34-14.

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$A $5 surcharge is imposed on the issuance of trip permits.

$The surcharge must be deposited in the Motor Vehicle Fund for vehicle weigh stations and weigh-in-motion programs.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 27 members:  Representatives Fisher, Democratic Co-Chair; K. Schmidt, Republican Co-Chair; Cooper, Democratic 1st Vice Chair; Edwards, Democratic 2nd Vice Chair; Ericksen, Republican Vice Chair; Hankins, Republican Vice Chair; Buck; G. Chandler; DeBolt; Fortunato; Haigh; Hatfield; Hurst; Lovick; McDonald; Mielke; Mitchell; Morris; Murray; Ogden; Pflug; Radcliff; Romero; Schindler; Scott; Skinner and Wood.

Staff:  Jennifer Hanlon Ziegler (786-7316).

Background:

Motor vehicles driving on Washington's public highways must be either licensed in Washington or be covered by a reciprocal arrangement with another state.  Vehicles that are unlicensed and have no such reciprocal agreement must either become licensed or purchase a trip permit in lieu of a license.

Commercial vehicle operators must pay a special fuel use tax while operating in Washington.  A special fuel user may obtain a trip permit in lieu of paying the fuel tax.

Each trip permit authorizes the operation of a single vehicle at the maximum weight limit for that vehicle, for a period of three consecutive days.  No more than three permits may be used for any vehicle in any period of 30 consecutive days. For recreational vehicles, no more than two permits may be used for any one vehicle in a one year period.

Trip permits may be obtained from field offices of the Department of Transportation, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing, or other agents appointed by the department.  The current fee for obtaining a vehicle trip permit is $10.  The fee for obtaining a special fuel user trip permit is $20.  Trip permit fees are deposited in the motor vehicle fund and the general fund.

Summary of Bill:

A surcharge of $5 is imposed on the issuance of trip permits.  The surcharge must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund for the purpose of supporting vehicle weigh stations, weigh-in-motion programs, and the commercial vehicle information systems and networks program.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S): Type effect of Senate amendments here

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  None.