Brief Description: Concerning the master licensing service.

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

House Committee on Commerce & Labor
House Committee on Appropriations
Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections

Background:

The Master License Service (MLS) within the Department of Licensing is charged with providing a consolidated "one-stop" state and local government business licensing service. Certain state agencies are required to participate in the MLS, but cities and counties are not. Ten state agencies and five cities, involving over 100 different licenses, participate in the MLS.

The participating agencies are:

• Department of Labor and Industries
• Department of Revenue
• Department of Agriculture
• Liquor Control Board
• Department of Health
• Employment Security Department
• Department of Ecology
• Washington State Lottery
• Secretary of State's Office
• Department of Licensing

The participating cities are:

• Richland
• Sammamish
• Spokane Valley
• Tumwater
• Bellevue

Under the MLS, each participating agency/city includes its new and renewable licenses as part of this single process. The MLS manages all paperwork between the business license applicant or license holder and the partner agency/city. The MLS maintains a centralized business licensing data system on behalf of the agencies/cities; all have access to their records and information. The MLS collects funds for all licenses and transmits funds to the appropriate agencies/cities. Businesses are able to apply for business licenses via the Internet, by mail, or at any one of the MLS participating agencies/cities.

Summary:

The Department of Licensing (Department) is directed to administer a performance-based grant program to provide funds to public agencies that issue business licenses and wish to join the Department's Master License Service.

The Department may determine the order and amounts of the grants considering certain criteria, which include the readiness of the public agency to participate, the number of renewable licenses, and the reduced regulatory impact to businesses subject to licensure relative to the overall investment required by the Department.

The Department must invite and encourage local jurisdictions that issue business licenses to participate in the program. The total amount of grants may not exceed $750,000 in any fiscal year. The Master License Account is the source of funds for the grant program.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   96   0
Senate   40   1

Effective: July 24, 2005