Brief Description: Revising provisions relating to renewal of transient accommodation licenses.

Sponsors: By Senate Committee on Commerce & Trade (originally sponsored by Senator Honeyford).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

• Permits an application for renewal of a transient accommodation license to be postmarked or received as late as the date the license expires.

• Deems approved any complete and correct renewal application submitted on time.

• Keeps licenses valid up to 35 days past the expiration date, if no correct and complete renewal application has been received.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Conway, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; McMorris, Ranking Minority Member; Condotta, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Crouse, Holmquist, Kenney and McCoy.

"Transient accommodations" are hotels, motels, resorts, and other facilities that offer three or more lodging units for short-term use. Those who operate transient accommodations are required to obtain a license from the Department of Health (Department). Operation of a transient accommodation without a valid license is prohibited and constitutes a misdemeanor.

The Department is directed to set fees for transient accommodation licenses to cover the cost of regulation. Annual licensing fees range from $150 for a facility with 10 or fewer units to $600 for one with 50 or more. Applications for a new license must be submitted at least 60 days before opening a transient accommodation for business.

Transient accommodation licenses must be renewed each year. By statute, application for renewal of a license must be made 30 days before the license expires. By rule, a $50 penalty is charged on applications delivered or postmarked after this deadline.

Application for renewal of a transient accommodation license are allowed to be postmarked or received by the Department as late as the date the license expires.

A renewal application that is submitted on time and correct and complete is deemed valid for the following year, unless the Department goes through the administrative procedure to suspend or revoke it.

If the operator of a transient application fails to submit an application on time, or if the application submitted does not meet the requirements of the statute, rules or fee schedule, the existing license remains valid for up to 35 days after the expiration date. Within this period, any deficiencies in the application must be corrected and a penalty fee paid, or the license becomes invalid. The operator of a transient accommodation must apply for reinstatement of an invalid license under the process required to get a new license.

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

Testimony For: A constituent was upset that he was required to submit the transient accommodation license renewal application 30 days in advance of the license expiration and that he received a $50 fine when he did not get it in by this deadline. The Department of Health has submitted a letter saying they support the bill. The language of the bill has been worked out. Licenses will be renewed in a timely fashion.