Title: An act relating to the "share the road" special license plate.

Brief Description: Authorizing the "share the road" special license plate.

Sponsors: By Representatives Wood, Jarrett, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Wallace, Kilmer, Hankins, Haler, Hunter, Morrell, Lovick, Nixon and Ormsby.

Brief History:

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

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/15/05, 94-2.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 4/8/05, 43-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 24 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, Morris, Nixon, Rodne, Schindler, Sells, Shabro, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Takko, Upthegrove and Wood.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives Buck and Hankins.

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 Bicycle Alliance of Washington's "Share the Road" license plate application.

Summary of Bill:

The Department of Licensing must issue a special license plate displaying a symbol or artwork recognizing an organization that promotes bicycle safety awareness and education throughout Washington.

An applicant for a "Share the Road" 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 Share the Road Account, which promotes bicycle safety and awareness education in communities throughout Washington.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):

The special license plate created by the Act will commemorate the life of Cooper Jones. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Account is repealed. Revenue generated form the sale of the existing Cooper Jones emblems is deposited into the Share the Road Account.

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 bicycle safety and awareness education throughout Washington. The funds will be deposited into the Share the Road Account, which currently is solely funded by the sale of a "Share the Road" emblem. This account was created by the Cooper Jones Act, passed in 1998 in memoriam of a young man killed in a bicycle accident.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Steve Lind, Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.