Sponsors: Senate Committee on Highways & Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Benton, B. Sheldon, T. Sheldon, Rasmussen and Shin).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

• Establishes a "Helping Kids Speak" special license plate series.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 27 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Rockefeller, Vice Chair; G. Simpson, Vice Chair; Ericksen, Ranking Minority Member; Jarrett, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Campbell, Clibborn, Cooper, Dickerson, Flannigan, Hankins, Hatfield, Hudgins, Kristiansen, Lovick, Mielke, Morris, Nixon, Rodne, Romero, Schindler, Shabro, Wallace, Wood and Woods.

The Special License Plate Review Board (SLPRB) was created in 2003 by ESHB 1592. 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 Scottish Rite Center for Childhood Language Disorders' application for a "Helping Kids Speak" special license plate series.

Beginning with vehicle registrations due or to become due in November 2004, the Department of Licensing (DOL) must issue a special license plate displaying a symbol recognizing an organization that supports programs that provide free speech pathology services for children.

An applicant for a "Helping Kids Speak" 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. The remaining 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 Helping Kids Speak Account.

The DOL must enter into a contract with a qualified nonprofit organization requiring that the organization use the plate revenue to provide free diagnostic and therapeutic services to families of children who suffer from a delay in language or speech development.

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

Testimony For: This bill will help fund the seven Centers for Childhood Language Disorders throughout the state. Ten percent of children have some form of verbal disability. These centers provide free programs for these children.

Persons Testifying: Senator Haugen, prime sponsor; and Don White, Childhood Language Disorders Center.