Title: An act relating to the "Keep Kids Safe" license plate series.

Brief Description: Creating the "Keep Kids Safe" license plate series.

Sponsors: Senators Regala, Brandland, Hargrove, Weinstein, Esser, Kohl-Welles and Oke; by request of Washington Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/10/05, 2/21/05 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5104 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Jacobsen, Vice Chair; Poulsen, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Eide, Esser, Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Spanel and Weinstein.

Staff: Dalene Sprick (786-7321)

Background: The Special License Plate Review Board was created in the 2003 session and charged with reviewing special license plate applications from groups requesting the creation of a special license plate series. Upon approval, the board forwards the application to the Legislature.

On September 10, 2004, the board formally approved the Washington State Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect "Keep Kids Safe" license plate application.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The Department of Licensing (DOL) must issue a special license plate displaying a symbol or artwork recognizing efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect.

An applicant for a "Keep Kids Safe" license plate must pay an initial fee of $45 and a renewal fee each year thereafter 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 the implementation costs. Upon reimbursement, the revenue must be deposited into the children's trust fund.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: Technical corrections were made to the original bill.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The $45 initial fee started out as a typo however, we decided it would be best to start with that amount so we would not have to come back later and request an increase. Funds will be used as follows: 15 percent to shaken baby awareness programs, 10 percent marketing and rest for grants to communities. This plate is very special as it has the hand-print of a victim of shaken baby syndrome on it. There is a huge need to educate people about the dangers of shaken baby syndrome. We need a multiple pronged approach to abuse prevention that is comparable to car seat safety. Currently, you cannot leave the hospital with a newborn without having the car seat checked; however you can leave the hospital without knowing how to care for that infant. If we start education in the schools now, in six years everyone will have a plan of how to care for a fussy baby. Every day three to five babies are shaken. One third of those die and the ones left alive suffer severe medical challenges. Arizona has a similar plate and it has raised $2.2 million since 2002. This plate will allow everyone to contribute to keeping children safe.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Kristen Rogers, Washington Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; Denise Isings; Shaken Baby Coalition; and Bernie Dorsey, Parent Trust for Washington Children.