SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6365

As of January 21, 2004

Title: An act relating to special license plates.

Brief Description: Expanding and clarifying special license plate law.

Sponsors: Senators Haugen and Horn.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 1/21/04.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: Under current law, for an additional fee, license plates displaying the standard background may be personalized using numbers and/or letters. The revenue generated by the sale of personalized license plates is distributed to the state wildlife fund and used for the preservation, protection, perpetuation, and enhancement of nongame species of wildlife.

Persons who qualify for special disabled parking privileges are entitled to receive from the Department of Licensing (DOL) a removable windshield placard and one set of special disabled parking license plates bearing the international symbol of access.

Summary of Bill: DOL is authorized to offer personalized special license plates. Persons applying to purchase a personalized special license plate must pay both the fee for the special plate and the fee for a personalized plate.

DOL must offer disabled parking emblem versions of special license plates to persons who qualify for disabled parking privileges. The plates must display an emblem of the universal symbol of access incorporated in the background of the special license plate. Persons applying for a disabled parking emblem version of a special license plate must pay the appropriate special license plate fee. The disabled parking emblem version of a special license plate is administered in the same manner as the special disabled parking license plates currently issued by DOL.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 16, 2004.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on November 1, 2004.