Title: An act relating to subagents' fees.

Brief Description: Increasing certain fees of licensing subagents.

Sponsors: By Senators Eide, Swecker, Spanel, Stevens, Mulliken, Rasmussen and Benson.

Brief History:

Transportation: 3/30/05, 3/31/05 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 4/13/05, 93-3.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 22 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Wallace, Vice Chair; Woods, Ranking Minority Member; Buck, Campbell, Curtis, Dickerson, Ericksen, Hankins, Jarrett, Kilmer, Lovick, Morris, Nixon, Rodne, Schindler, Sells, Shabro, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Takko and Wood.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 4 members: Representatives Appleton, Flannigan, Hudgins and Upthegrove.

Staff: Teresa Berntsen (786-7301).

Background:

Under current law, the Department of Licensing (DOL) appoints county auditors to perform vehicle licensing services. The DOL may also appoint subagents within a county.

Subagents collect a service fee of $8.50 for changes in a certificate of ownership or for preparation of an affidavit of lost title. Subagents charge a $3.50 service fee for renewing a vehicle registration and other vehicle services.

Summary of Bill:

The subagent service fee for changes in certificate of ownership and preparation of an affidavit of lost title is changed from $8.50 to $10.00. The subagent service fee for renewing a vehicle registration or other service is changed from $3.50 to $4.00.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: Most subagencies are small, stand-alone businesses. New legislation and other initiatives, in addition to increased costs of health care, leases, etc., have increased the cost of doing business. The last subagent fee increase was four years ago.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Jan Novak, Washington Association of Vehicle Subagents; and Donald McCallum, Washington Association of Vehicle Subagents.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.