SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6371
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Transportation, February 1, 2002
Title: An act relating to public school license plates.
Brief Description: Establishing public school license plates.
Sponsors: Senators McAuliffe, Winsley, Fairley, Benton, Haugen, Finkbeiner, Eide, Rasmussen, Kastama, Franklin, Prentice, Johnson, T. Sheldon, Jacobsen, Kohl‑Welles and Keiser.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/25/02, 2/1/02 [DPS].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6371 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Eide, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Kastama, Keiser, McAuliffe, McDonald, Oke, Prentice and Shin.
Staff: Greg Doss (786‑7341)
Background: Special motor vehicle license plates are those plates containing a unique design recognizing a particular organization or membership in a particular group. Some of these special plates are used to raise money for particular causes and others are used to honor residents of the state for particular activities.
Summary of Substitute Bill: A Public School License Plate series is established. The Department of Licensing and Superintendent of Public Instruction must design a plate displaying a red apple symbol and an education related motto. The plate is transferable upon sale of a vehicle.
The initial charge is $40. The plate renewal charge is $30. After deducting administrative expenses, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction forwards $28 of the initial and renewal charges to either the Washington Apple Education Foundation or public school district of the applicant's choice.
Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The original bill required the Department of Licensing to distribute $28 of the new and renewal fees to the Washington Apple Education Foundation or public school district, as designated by the plate applicant. Under the substitute, $28 is deposited into the newly created public school license plate account. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is responsible for distributing $28 to designated school districts. Before distributing the $28, OSPI will take an amount necessary to recover its costs for fund distribution. The substitute makes the plates transferable upon the sale of a vehicle.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 17, 2002.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: The Washington State PTA has over 140,000 members who are potential customers for the plate. Apple license plates are a great way to raise money for local school districts.
Testimony Against: Highway safety enforcement concerns were expressed about all special license plates.
Testified: Carol Taylor Cann, Washington State PTA; Lynda Henriksen, Dept. of Licensing; Eric Robertson, State Patrol; Tim Schellberg, WASPC.