Title: An act relating to regulation of limousines.

Brief Description: Modifying the definition of limousine.

Sponsors: By Representatives Hudgins and Conway; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

Transportation: 2/1/06, 2/2/06 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/10/06, 97-1.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 28 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Wallace, Vice Chair; Woods, Ranking Minority Member; Skinner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Buck, Campbell, Clibborn, Curtis, Dickerson, Flannigan, Hankins, Holmquist, Hudgins, Jarrett, Kilmer, Lovick, Morris, Nixon, Rodne, Schindler, Sells, Shabro, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Takko, Upthegrove and Wood.

Staff: Teresa Berntsen (786-7301).

Background:

Under current state law, the Department of Licensing's (DOL) Business and Professions division licenses and regulates privately operated limousine services. The DOL, in conjunction with the Washington State Patrol (WSP), is charged with regulating various aspects of the operation of limousine businesses, including vehicle safety equipment, chauffeur qualifications, and required insurance levels.

State law defines different categories of limousines, such as stretch limousines, executive sedans, etc. New categories of limousines have emerged, such as stretch sport utility vehicles.

Summary of Bill:

The definitions of different categories of limousine are removed. The DOL, in consultation with the WSP, is directed to define categories of limousines by rule.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on November 1, 2006.

Testimony For: By allowing the Department of Licensing to define categories of limousine by rule will allow for emerging categories of limousines and provide clarification to the industry and employees. This bill is supported by the limousine industry.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Hudgins, prime sponsor; Nancy Skewis and Jana Jones, Department of Licensing; and Jeff Devere, Washington State Patrol.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.