SENATE BILL REPORT

2SHB 1796

As of April 1, 2003

Title: An act relating to funding driver's education for low-income students.

Brief Description: Funding driver's education for low-income students.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Murray, Hankins, Dunshee, Anderson, Lantz, Eickmeyer, McIntire, Kagi, Conway, Kenney, Schual-Berke, Wood, Lovick, Santos and Edwards).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 4/1/03.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Staff: Kelly Simpson (786-7403)

Background: Under current law, school districts may offer traffic safety education courses. Subject to appropriation, the Superintendent of Public Instruction determines the per-pupil state reimbursement rate for each school district offering an approved traffic safety education course. Additionally, school districts may establish a traffic safety education fee to be paid by traffic safety students enrolled in the courses.

Vehicle owners are required by law to periodically replace their license plates to ensure maximum legibility and reflectivity.

Summary of Bill: Vehicle owners, when purchasing original or replacement license plates as required by law, must pay an additional fee of $1 per license plate. This additional fee may only be used for reducing the cost of school district traffic safety education courses for students qualifying for free or reduced school lunches.

School districts that establish a traffic safety education fee must set a reduced fee for students qualifying for free or reduced school lunches, subject to funding received from the additional license plate fee.

School districts that do not offer a traffic safety education course may offer scholarships for students qualifying for free or reduced school lunches who enroll in traffic safety education courses at commercial driver training schools.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on March 27, 2003. (Fiscal note is available for 1st Substitute.)

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2003.