SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 2910

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Highways & Transportation, March 1, 2004

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

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 2/18/04, 3/1/04 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Haugen, Jacobsen, Kastama, Mulliken, Murray, Oke, Poulsen and Spanel.

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: The Special License Plate Review Board was created in the 2003 session and charged with reviewing special license plate applications from groups requesting the creation of a special license plate series. Upon approval, the board forwards the application to the Legislature.

On January 26, 2004, the board formally approved the Professional Firefighters and Paramedics license plate application.

Summary of Bill: The Department of Licensing (DOL) must issue a special license plate displaying a symbol for professional fire fighters and paramedics who are members of the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters.

An applicant for a Professional Firefighters 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.

DOL must enter into a contract with a qualified nonprofit organization requiring that the organization must disseminate the funds for charitable purposes on behalf of members of the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, their families, and others deemed in need.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill contains several effective dates. Please refer to the bill.

Testimony For: This bill came from our members and these plates will be displayed with pride by professional firefighters.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Representative Geoff Simpson; Keven Rojecki, Washington State Council of Fire Fighters.