SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5246

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Highways & Transportation, February 3, 2003

Title: An act relating to department of licensing agent and subagent provisions.

Brief Description: Modifying subagent authority to process mail-in vehicle registration renewals.

Sponsors: Senators Esser, Mulliken, Horn, Swecker, Prentice and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 1/29/03, 2/3/03 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5246 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Haugen, Jacobsen; Mulliken, Oke, Prentice and Spanel.

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: The Department of Licensing now offers various vehicle licensing services on-line. Internet payment option (IPO) customers may select to: (1) pick up their replacement plates or registration renewal tabs at either a county auditor or subagent office; or (2) the IPO customers may choose to receive their plates or registration renewal tabs through the mail. Currently, however, only county auditors are authorized to mail replacement plates or registration renewal tabs to IPO customers who choose the mail option.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Subagents are granted the same authority as the county auditors to mail replacement plates or registration renewal tabs to Internet payment option customers. The Department of Licensing must provide notice to IPO customers that selecting a subagent to mail a replacement plate or renewal tab will cost an additional $3.50. An effective date of October 1, 2003 is provided.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: An effective date of October 1, 2003 is provided. The Department of Licensing is required to provide notice to Internet payment option customers that selecting a subagent to mail a replacement plate or renewal tab will cost an additional $3.50.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Currently, the Internet is a convenient business environment customers are increasingly choosing to use. We are simply asking that the subagents have the same authority as the county auditors to provide mail services to Internet payment option customers.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Jan Novak, Washington Association of Vehicle Subagents.