SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6437

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions, February 1, 2000

Title:  An act relating to trade name registrations.

Brief Description:  Modifying provisions concerning the registration of business trade names.

Sponsors:  Senators Prentice and Winsley; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Commerce, Trade, Housing & Financial Institutions:  1/28/2000, 2/1/2000 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, TRADE, HOUSING & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Benton, Deccio, Gardner, Hale, Heavey, Rasmussen, T. Sheldon and Winsley.

Staff:  Elizabeth Mitchell (786-7430)

Background:  A signature is currently required to execute the registration of a trade name and to change one's name or address.  No signature is required to cancel a trade name registration.  There is concern that the signature requirement at registration may not be conducive with Internet registration, and is inconsistent with cancellation procedures.

Summary of Bill:  The signature requirement is removed from the registration process.  A signature is not required when changing one's name or address.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The elimination of a signature will simplify the application process.  Many other state services are available without a signature.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Nancy Skewis, Department of Licensing (pro).