HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2471

As Reported by House Committee On:

Transportation

Title: An act relating to special license plates to honor law enforcement officers in Washington killed in the line of duty.

Brief Description: Authorizing special license plates to honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Sponsors: Representatives Lovick, Delvin, O'Brien, Edwards, Chase, Ahern, Simpson, D., Kessler, Kirby, Pettigrew, Lantz, Rockefeller, McCoy, Murray, Eickmeyer, Sullivan, Miloscia, Haigh, Dickerson, Hunt, Grant, McDermott, Romero, Ormsby, Darneille, McDonald, Morrell, Wallace, Skinner, Kenney, Moeller, Dunshee, Hudgins, Hankins, Hinkle, Pearson, Santos, Wood, McMahan, Clibborn, Simpson, G., Fromhold, Hunter, Talcott, Kristiansen, Hatfield, Condotta and Conway.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 1/29/04 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 28 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Rockefeller, Vice Chair; Simpson, G., Vice Chair; Ericksen, Ranking Minority Member; Jarrett, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Campbell, Clibborn, Cooper, Dickerson, Edwards, Flannigan, Hankins, Hatfield, Hudgins, Kristiansen, Lovick, Mielke, Morris, Nixon, Rodne, Romero, Schindler, Shabro, Sullivan, Wallace and Woods.

Staff: Page Scott (786-7301).

Background:

The Special License Plate Review Board (SLPRB) was created in 2003 by ESHB1592. The SLPRB is charged with reviewing special license plate applications from groups requesting the creation of a special license plate series. Upon review and approval, the SLPRB forwards the application to the Legislature.

On January 8, 2004, the SLPRB formally approved the Law Enforcement Memorial special license plate application.

Summary of Bill:

Beginning with vehicle registrations due or to become due in January 2005, the Department of Licensing (DOL) must issue a special license plate displaying a symbol honoring law enforcement officers in Washington who were killed in the line of duty.

An applicant for a Law Enforcement Memorial license plate must pay an initial fee of $40 and a renewal fee each year thereafter of $30. The initial revenue generated from the plate sales must be deposited into the motor vehicle account until the state has been reimbursed for the implementation costs. Upon reimbursement, the revenue must be deposited into the law enforcement memorial account.

The DOL must enter into a contract with a qualified nonprofit organization requiring that the organization use the revenue generated by the license plate sales to provide support and assistance to survivors and families of law enforcement officers in Washington who were killed in the line of duty and to construct, maintain, and utilize a memorial on the state capitol grounds to honor fallen officers.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill recognizes the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty and their families. Moneys earned will go towards a memorial that the public can enjoy and appreciate.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Lovick, prime sponsor; Gayle Frink-Schultz, Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial; Bill Hanson, Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs; and Bob Thurston, Washington State Patrol Troopers Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.