Brief Description: Creating the "Armed Forces" special vehicle license plate collection.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Hudgins, Ericksen, McCoy, Haigh, Miloscia, Simpson, Upthegrove, Kessler, Appleton, Williams, Curtis, Conway, Nixon, P. Sullivan, Kenney, Hinkle, Wallace, Jarrett, Dunn, Linville, Morris, Wood, Hunter, Sells, Clibborn, Morrell, Campbell, B. Sullivan and Chase; by request of Department of Veterans Affairs).

House Committee on Transportation
Senate Committee on Transportation

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 that the organization and proposed plate meet criteria set by state law and then forward the approved application to the Legislature.

Drivers pay an additional fee for a special vehicle license plate. The initial revenue generated from the special plate sales is deposited into the Motor Vehicle Account until the state has been reimbursed for implementation costs. After reimbursement, the revenue is deposited into the account designated by the authorizing statute for the specific special vehicle license plate.

On December 10, 2004, the Board approved the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs' "Armed Forces" license plate collection application.

Summary:

The Department of Licensing must issue a special vehicle license plate collection displaying a symbol or artwork recognizing the contribution of veterans, active duty military personnel, and reservists. The collection includes five designs representing the army, navy, air force, marine corp, and coast guard.

Armed forces license plates are available only to veterans, active duty military personnel, reservists, members of the Washington National Guard, and the spouses of deceased veterans.

An applicant for an "Armed Forces" license plate pays an initial fee of $40 and an annual renewal fee of $30. After reimbursement to the state, the revenue must be deposited into the Veterans Stewardship Account, to be used by the Department of Veterans Affairs for activities that benefit veterans, including but not limited to programs and services for homeless veterans, establishing memorials honoring veterans, and maintaining a future state veterans' cemetery.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   1
Senate   47   0   (Senate amended)
House   93   2   (House concurred)

Effective: July 24, 2005