READ FIRST TIME 02/18/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to department of licensing agent and subagent provisions; amending RCW 46.01.230; providing contingent effect; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 46.01.230 and 1994 c 262 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department of licensing is authorized to accept checks and money orders for payment of drivers' licenses, certificates of ownership and registration, motor vehicle excise taxes, gross weight fees, and other fees and taxes collected by the department, in accordance with regulations adopted by the director. The director's regulations shall duly provide for the public's convenience consistent with sound business practice and shall encourage the annual renewal of vehicle registrations by mail to the department, authorizing checks and money orders for payment. Such regulations shall contain provisions for cancellation of any registrations, licenses, or permits paid for by checks or money orders which are not duly paid and for the necessary accounting procedures in such cases: PROVIDED, That any bona fide purchaser for value of a vehicle shall not be liable or responsible for any prior uncollected taxes and fees paid, pursuant to this section, by a check which has subsequently been dishonored: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That no transfer of ownership of a vehicle may be denied to a bona fide purchaser for value of a vehicle if there are outstanding uncollected fees or taxes for which a predecessor paid, pursuant to this section, by check which has subsequently been dishonored nor shall the new owner be required to pay any fee for replacement vehicle license number plates that may be required pursuant to RCW 46.16.270 as now or hereafter amended.
     (2) It is a traffic infraction to fail to surrender within ten days to the department or any authorized agent of the department any certificate, license, or permit after being notified that such certificate, license, or permit has been canceled pursuant to this section. Notice of cancellation may be accomplished by sending a notice by first class mail using the last known address in department records for the holder of the certificate, license, or permit, and recording the transmittal on an affidavit of first class mail.
     (3) Whenever registrations, licenses, or permits have been paid for by checks that have been dishonored by nonacceptance or nonpayment, a reasonable handling fee may be assessed for each such instrument. Notwithstanding provisions of any other laws, county auditors, agents, and subagents, appointed or approved by the director pursuant to RCW 46.01.140, may collect restitution, and where they have collected restitution may retain the reasonable handling fee. The amount of the reasonable handling fee may be set by rule by the director.
     (4) In those counties where the county auditor has been appointed an agent of the director under RCW 46.01.140, the auditor shall continue to process mail-in registration renewals until directed otherwise by legislative authority. Subagents appointed by the director under RCW 46.01.140 have the same authority to mail out registrations and replacement plates to Internet payment option customers as the agents until directed otherwise by legislative authority. The department shall provide separate statements giving notice to Internet payment option customers that: (a) A subagent service fee, as provided in RCW 46.01.140(5)(b), will be collected by a subagent office for providing mail and pick-up services; and (b) a filing fee will be collected on all transactions listed under RCW 46.01.140(4)(a). The statement must include the amount of the fee and be published on the department's Internet web site on the page that lists each department, county auditor, and subagent office, eligible to provide mail or pick-up services for registration renewals and replacement plates. The statements must be published below each office listed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act takes effect October 1, 2003.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2003, in the omnibus transportation appropriations act, this act is null and void.