Title: An act relating to special license plates for professional fire fighters and paramedics.

Brief Description: Authorizing special license plates for fire fighters and paramedics.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives G. Simpson, Cooper, Woods, Hinkle and Conway).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

• Establishes a professional fire fighters and paramedics special license plate.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 29 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, Wood and Woods.

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 board forwards the application to the Legislature.

On January 26, 2004, the SLPRB formally approved the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters' license plate application.

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 denoting professional fire fighters and paramedics. Applicants must provide proof of membership in the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters (WSCFF).

An applicant for a professional fire fighters and paramedics 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 Washington State Council of Fire Fighters benevolent fund 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 disseminate funds for charitable purposes on behalf of members of the WSCFF, their families, and others deemed in need.

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

Testimony For: The number of signatures gathered in a short period of time as part of the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters' application to the Special License Plate Review Board is a good indication of the level of support the firefighting community has for this special license plate series.

Persons Testifying: Kelly Fox and Bud Sizemore, Washington State Council of Fire Fighters.