S-3965

AN ACT Relating to public school license plates; amending RCW 46.16.290 and 46.16.313; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 46.16 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 46.68 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:

"Public school license plates" mean license plates that display a red apple symbol and an education-related motto.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department, in consultation with the superintendent of public instruction, shall design a statewide public school license plate with a red apple symbol and an education-related motto. Public school license plates issued under this chapter must be displayed on the department's officially designated mountain background design.

(2) The department shall provide to the superintendent of public instruction, either the public school or Washington apple education foundation designation information supplied by the public school license plate applicant.

Sec. 3. RCW 46.16.290 and 1997 c 291 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

In any case of a valid sale or transfer of the ownership of any vehicle, the right to the certificates properly transferable therewith, except as provided in RCW 46.16.280, and to the vehicle license plates passes to the purchaser or transferee. It is unlawful for the holder of such certificates, except as provided in RCW 46.16.280, or vehicle license plates to fail, neglect, or refuse to endorse the certificates and deliver the vehicle license plates to the purchaser or transferee. If the sale or transfer is of a vehicle licensed by the state or any county, city, town, school district, or other political subdivision entitled to exemption as provided by law, or, if the vehicle is licensed with personalized plates, amateur radio operator plates, medal of honor plates, disabled person plates, disabled veteran plates, prisoner of war plates, public school license plates, or other special license plates issued under RCW 46.16.301 as it existed before amendment by section 5, chapter 291, Laws of 1997, the vehicle license plates therefor shall be retained and may be displayed upon a vehicle obtained in replacement of the vehicle so sold or transferred.

Sec. 4. RCW 46.16.313 and 1997 c 291 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department may establish a fee of no more than forty dollars for each type of special license plates issued under RCW 46.16.301(1) (a), (b), or (c), as existing before amendment by section 5, chapter 291, Laws of 1997, ((~~in an amount calculated~~)) to offset the cost of production of the special license plates and the administration of this program. ((Until December 31, 1997, the fee shall not exceed thirty-five dollars, but effective with vehicle registrations due or to become due on January 1, 1998, the department may adjust the fee to no more than forty dollars.)) This fee is in addition to all other fees required to register and license the vehicle for which the plates have been requested. All such additional special license plate fees collected by the department shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the motor vehicle fund.

(2) ((Until December 31, 1997, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application, registration, and renewal registration of a motor vehicle, the holder of a collegiate license plate shall pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds, minus the cost of plate production, shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the funds to the appropriate collegiate license plate fund as provided in RCW 28B.10.890.

~~(3) Effective with vehicle registrations due or to become due on January 1, 1998,~~)) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application and registration of a motor vehicle, the holder of a collegiate license plate shall pay an initial fee of forty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the funds to the appropriate collegiate license plate fund as provided in RCW 28B.10.890.

((~~(4) Effective with annual renewals due or to become due on January 1, 1999,~~)) (3) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon renewal of a motor vehicle registration, the holder of a collegiate license plate shall pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the funds to the appropriate collegiate license plate fund as provided in RCW 28B.10.890.

((~~(5)~~)) (4) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application and registration of a motor vehicle, the holder of a special baseball stadium license plate shall pay an initial fee of forty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds, minus the cost of plate production, shall be distributed to a county for the purpose of paying the principal and interest payments on bonds issued by the county to construct a baseball stadium, as defined in RCW 82.14.0485, including reasonably necessary preconstruction costs, while the taxes are being collected under RCW 82.14.360. After this date, the state treasurer shall credit the funds to the state general fund.

((~~(6) Effective with annual renewals due or to become due on January 1, 1999,~~)) (5) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon renewal of a motor vehicle registration, the holder of a special baseball stadium license plate shall pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds shall be distributed to a county for the purpose of paying the principal and interest payments on bonds issued by the county to construct a baseball stadium, as defined in RCW 82.14.0485, including reasonably necessary preconstruction costs, while the taxes are being collected under RCW 82.14.360. After this date, the state treasurer shall credit the funds to the state general fund.

(6) Effective with vehicle registrations due or to become due on January 1, 2003, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application and registration of a motor vehicle, the holder of a public school license plate shall pay an initial fee of forty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds must be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the public school license plate account established under section 5 of this act. The superintendent of public instruction shall remit the proceeds, less its administrative expenses, to the appropriate public school district or the Washington apple education foundation, as designated by the public school license plate applicant.

(7) Effective with annual renewals due or to become due on January 1, 2004, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon renewal of a motor vehicle registration, the holder of a public school license plate shall, upon application, pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds must be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the public school license plate account established under section 5 of this act. The superintendent of public instruction shall remit the proceeds, less its administrative expenses, to the appropriate public school district or the Washington apple education foundation, as designated by the public school license plate holder.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 46.68 RCW to read as follows:

The public school license plate account is established in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts, except as provided in RCW 46.16.313 (6) and (7), from public school license plates must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for educational scholarships provided through the Washington apple education foundation, for distribution to Washington state public school districts and to fund public school license plate-related administrative and distribution costs, as authorized by the superintendent of public instruction. The account is not subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, and no appropriation is required for expenditures.