Title: An act relating to endangered wildlife license plates.

Brief Description: Authorizing endangered wildlife license plates.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Swecker, Jacobsen, Doumit, Fraser, Kohl-Welles and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

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

Passed Senate: 3/12/05, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5229 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 December 10, 2004, the board formally approved the Department of Fish and Wildlife's "Endangered Wildlife" license plate application.

Summary of Bill: The Department of Licensing must issue a special license plate displaying a symbol or artwork for symbolizing endangered wildlife in Washington State.

An applicant for a Endangered Wildlife license plate must pay an initial fee of $40 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 state wildlife account and may only be used for endangered wildlife activities.

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: This will provide additional dollars for underfunded programs. It is a legacy opportunity to create a landmark conservation achievements. Great excitement over the funding opportunities this provides and our constituency has also exhibited very strong support for the plates. An Orca is the icon of the Pacific Northwest. This will allow the implementation and expansion of the species recovery plan. Washington state has 37 state listed endangered or threatened species.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Swecker, prime sponsor; Steve Pozzanahera, WDFW; Heath Packard, Audubon.