Title: An act relating to endangered wildlife license plates.

Brief Description: Authorizing endangered wildlife license plates.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives B. Sullivan, Lovick, Eickmeyer, Upthegrove, Ericksen, Morrell, Dickerson, Sells and Ormsby).

Brief History:

Transportation: 2/14/05, 3/3/05 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/15/05, 92-4.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 4/13/05, 46-0.
House Concurred.
Passed House: 4/18/05, 86-9.
Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 23 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Wallace, Vice Chair; Woods, Ranking Minority Member; Skinner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Campbell, Curtis, Dickerson, Ericksen, Hudgins, Jarrett, Kilmer, Lovick, Nixon, Rodne, Schindler, Sells, Shabro, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Takko, Upthegrove and Wood.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Buck, Hankins and Morris.

Staff: Teresa Berntsen (786-7301).

Background:

The Legislature created the Special License Plate Review Board (Board) in the 2003 session to review special vehicle license plate applications from governmental or nonprofit organizations in Washington. The Board must verify the organization and proposed plate meet criteria set by state law, and then forwards the approved application to the Legislature.

On December 10, 2004, the Board approved the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife's "Endangered Wildlife" license plate application.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The Department of Licensing must issue a special license plate displaying a symbol or artwork referred to as the "Endangered Wildlife" license plate.

An applicant for an "Endangered Wildlife" license plate pays an initial fee of $40 and an annual renewal fee 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 implementation costs. After reimbursement, the revenue must be deposited into the State Wildlife Account, and must be used for the Department of Fish and Wildlife's endangered wildlife program activities.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Proceeds from the sale of this plate will help fund the state's endangered wildlife preservation efforts.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative B. Sullivan, prime sponsor; and Mike O'Malley, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.