Title: An act relating to the "Share the Road" special license plate to commemorate Cooper Jones.

Brief Description: Authorizing "Share the Road" license plates to commemorate Cooper Jones.

Sponsors: Senators Jacobsen, Haugen and Brown.

Brief History:

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

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5444 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: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

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 Share the Road special license plate application.
                     

Summary of Substitute Bill: The Department of Licensing (DOL) must issue a special license plate commemorating the life of Cooper Jones. The special license plate must displays a symbol recognizing an organization that promotes bicycle safety and awareness education.

An applicant for a 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 Share the Road account.
                                             
DOL must enter into a contract with a qualified nonprofit organization requiring that the organization use the plate revenue to provide bicycle safety and awareness education in communities throughout Washington.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: An effective date of June 30, 2007 was provided for section six of the 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: Many people would be willing to purchase this license plate. We are happy that you kept the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee as it is a very valuable group. We need to have safety programs in Washington to counteract the conflict between vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. There are over 10,000 bicycle club members in this state. The plates will be a wonderful resource to provide funding for safety education programs for cyclists and motorists all over this state.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Steve Lind, Washington Traffic Safety Commission; Don Martin, Bicycle Alliance of Washington; Barbara Culp, Bicycle Alliance of Washington.