BILL REQ. #:  S-0181.1 

Read first time 01/27/2003.   Referred to Committee on Highways & Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to vehicle licensing subagents; adding a new section to chapter 46.01 RCW; creating a new section; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 46.01 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A pilot program is created to study the viability and efficiency of authorizing vehicle licensing subagents to issue renewals for drivers' licenses. The department of licensing, in conjunction with the title and registration advisory committee, shall administer the pilot program. The pilot program may not exceed a two-year period and may consist of no fewer than six and no more than eight subagents from across the state.
     (2) To the extent specific funds are appropriated for the pilot program in this section, the department of licensing, in conjunction with the title and registration advisory committee, must develop a competitive selection process to authorize the subagents to participate in the program. To the extent possible, the department of licensing and the title and registration advisory committee must ensure that the subagents selected represent different regions of the state in order to provide an adequate measure of the effectiveness of this program to better serve the citizens of the state.
     (3) The department of licensing must adopt the necessary rules and procedures to implement the pilot program.
     (4) The subagents selected to participate in the pilot program may collect a service fee in the amount provided in RCW 46.01.140(5)(b) for issuing a driver's license renewal.
     (5) In addition to any other fees required by law, persons renewing their driver's license at a subagent participating in the pilot program shall pay a one-dollar fee. The fee must be collected and remitted to the state treasurer for deposit into the department of licensing services account.
     (6) The title and registration advisory committee shall present a final report of the findings of the pilot program to the legislative transportation committee by March 30, 2006.
     (7) This section expires December 31, 2006.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act takes effect January 1, 2004.

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 budget, this act is null and void.