SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5600

As Passed Senate, March 18, 2003

Title: An act relating to disposition of returned license plates.

Brief Description: Regulating disposition of returned license plates.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Highways & Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Schmidt, Kohl-Welles, Esser, Finkbeiner, Rossi, Horn and Winsley).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 2/19/03, 3/5/03 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 3/18/03, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5600 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: The Department of Licensing (DOL) receives a large number of returned or surrendered license plates each month. DOL cleans up some of the plates that are returned and gives them to collectors, school children and others who request a license plate for non-vehicular use. DOL does not honor requests for returned or surrendered specialty license plates.

Summary of Bill: DOL is authorized to provide license plates that have been used and returned to individuals who request a plate for non-vehicular use.

DOL may charge a fee of up to $5 per plate to recover postage and handling costs. DOL may waive the fee for those requesting plates for an educational purpose.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: The Department of Licensing is providing a service to our citizens and should be able to charge a nominal fee to cover the costs to the state for providing this service.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Senator Dave Schmidt, prime sponsor.