Brief Description: Authorizing an additional motor vehicle registration fee to fund environmental protection or cleanup.

Sponsors: Representatives Murray, Hankins, Cooper, McDermott, Rockefeller, Gombosky, Santos and Haigh.

Hearing Date: 2/20/03

Staff: Jeff Doyle (786-7322).

Background:

In 1991 the Legislature enacted a clean air excise tax on owners of motor vehicles, campers, travel trailers, trailers and semi-trailers. The tax rate was $2.25 per vehicle, later reduced to $2.00 per vehicle in 1994.

Proceeds of this excise tax were deposited into the Air Pollution Control Account and used exclusively to implement the provisions of the Clean Air Act.

The Legislature repealed the clean air excise tax effective January 1, 2000, as part of the legislation implementing voter-approved Initiative 695.

Summary of Bill:

A motor vehicle registration fee is imposed for the purpose of funding air quality protection and clean-up authorized under the state's Clean Air Act, RCW 70.94. The following fees are collected only at the time of initial registration: (a) $10 on campers, motorcycles and trailers; (b) $20 for all passenger cars and for hire vehicles; and (c) $30 for all trucks, motor homes, combination of vehicles, commercial vehicles, and travel trailers. Vehicles subject to proportional registration are exempt from this fee.

A new state air quality account is created. Proceeds from the clean air fees must be deposited into this account and used only for purposes authorized under clean air act, RCW 70.94. Moneys deposited into this account are distributed as follows: 80 percent of the funds are distributed back to the air pollution control authorities, in proportion to the fees collected within the various jurisdictions; and 20 percent of the funds are distributed to the state department of ecology, to be used for air quality control and clean-up purposes.

Air pollution control authorities are authorized to contract indebtedness and issue bonds in an amount up to 1.5 percent of the value of taxable property within the boundaries of the authority. With a 60 percent vote of the people, the authority may borrow or issue bonds up to 5 percent of the value of the taxable property.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on September 1, 2003.