HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESHB 2167
As Passed House:
February 16, 2004
Title: An act relating to a special Washington state heritage license plate series.
Brief Description: Issuing special Washington heritage license plates.
Sponsors: By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representative G. Simpson).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 2/9/04 [DPS].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/16/04, 58-40.
Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill |
• Establishes a Washington State Heritage license plate series. |
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 18 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Rockefeller, Vice Chair; G. Simpson, Vice Chair; Jarrett, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell, Clibborn, Cooper, Dickerson, Flannigan, Hankins, Hatfield, Hudgins, Lovick, Morris, Romero, Sullivan, Wallace and Wood.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Ericksen, Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Kristiansen, Mielke, Nixon, Rodne, Shabro and Woods.
Staff: Page Scott (786-7301).
Background:
The Department of Licensing (DOL) offers several special license plate series denoting such things as the age or type of the vehicle, special activities or interests, state universities, and military service or sacrifice.
The appearance of the background of a vehicle license plate may vary in color and design but must be legible and clearly identifiable as a Washington state license plate.
Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill:
The Washington State Heritage (Heritage) license plate series is created. This series of eight different license plates will display images that depict various natural and man-made features of Washington. The eight license plate themes are: Orca, Steelhead trout, Lewis and Clark, Chief Seattle and the Story Pole, Willow Goldfinch, Western Hemlock, Washington State Ferry, and Space Needle. The plate designs may be solicited and must be approved by a task force comprised of four legislative members, one representative from the Washington State Patrol, and one representative from the DOL..
The Heritage license plate series must be available from the DOL beginning with vehicle registrations due or to become due in January 2005.
An applicant for a Heritage license plate must pay an initial fee of $40 and a renewal fee each year thereafter of $30. The DOL may deduct up to $12 of the initial fee and up to $2 of the renewal fee for administration and collection expenses incurred by the DOL. The remaining revenue generated from the different themed Heritage plate sales must be deposited into the following accounts:
Heritage License Plate Theme |
Account to be Credited |
Orca |
Vessel Response Account (RCW 90.56.335) |
Steelhead trout |
Natural Science, Wildlife, and Environmental Education Partnership Account (RCW 28A.300.445) |
Lewis and Clark |
Oral History, State Library, and Archives Account (RCW 43.07.380) |
Chief Seattle and the Story Pole |
American Indian Endowed Scholarship Trust Fund (RCW 28B.108.050) |
Willow Goldfinch |
Habitat Conservation Account (RCW 79A.15.020) |
Western Hemlock |
State Parks Renewal and Stewardship Account (RCW 79A.05.215) |
Washington State Ferry |
Multimodal Transportation Account (RCW 47.66.070) |
Space Needle |
Tourism Development and Promotion Account (RCW 43.330.094) |
A maximum fee of $40 is established for special license plates denoting the age or type of vehicle; special activities or interests; or status, contribution or sacrifices made for the United States or Washington.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 6, 2004.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This plate series will celebrate Washington's unique and distinct features and provide a source for additional state funding.
Testimony Against: None.
Persons Testifying: Representative G. Simpson, prime sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.