FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6148

C 221 L 04

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Authorizing special license plates to honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Highways & Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Horn, Brandland, Esser, Oke, Eide, Winsley and Hewitt).

Senate Committee on Highways & Transportation

House Committee on Transportation

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 8, 2004, the board formally approved the Law Enforcement Memorial special license plate application.

Summary: The Department of Licensing (DOL) must issue a special license plate displaying a symbol honoring law enforcement officers in Washington who were killed in the line of duty.

The Law Enforcement Memorial license plates are available January 1, 2005.

An applicant for a Law Enforcement Memorial 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 is deposited into the law enforcement memorial account.

DOL must enter into a contract with a qualified nonprofit organization requiring that the organization use the plate revenue to provide support and assistance to survivors and families of law enforcement officers in Washington who were killed in the line of duty and to construct, maintain, and utilize a memorial on the state capitol grounds to honor fallen officers.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       48  0

House       94  0    (House amended)

Senate       39  2    (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 10, 2004