BILL REQ. #:  S-0868.2 

Read first time 01/25/2005.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to the "Washington Lighthouses" special license plate; reenacting and amending RCW 46.16.313; adding new sections to chapter 46.16 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature recognizes that the "Washington Lighthouses" license plate has been reviewed by the special license plate review board under RCW 46.16.725, and found to fully comply with RCW 46.16.715 through 46.16.775.
     (2) The department shall issue a special license plate displaying a symbol or artwork, approved by the special license plate review board and the legislature, recognizing an organization that supports selected Washington state lighthouses and provides environmental education programs. The special license plate may be used in lieu of regular or personalized license plates for vehicles required to display one or two vehicle license plates, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW, upon terms and conditions established by the department.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:
     "Washington Lighthouses license plates" means license plates issued under section 1 of this act that display a symbol or artwork recognizing the efforts of lighthouse environmental programs in Washington state.

Sec. 3   RCW 46.16.313 and 2004 c 221 s 3, 2004 c 48 s 3, and 2004 c 35 s 3 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department may establish a fee of no more than forty dollars for each type of special license plates issued under RCW 46.16.301(1) (a), (b), or (c), as existing before amendment by section 5, chapter 291, Laws of 1997, in an amount calculated to offset the cost of production of the special license plates and the administration of this program. This fee is in addition to all other fees required to register and license the vehicle for which the plates have been requested. All such additional special license plate fees collected by the department shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the motor vehicle fund.
     (2) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application and registration of a motor vehicle, the holder of a collegiate license plate shall pay an initial fee of forty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the funds to the appropriate collegiate license plate fund as provided in RCW 28B.10.890.
     (3) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon renewal of a motor vehicle registration, the holder of a collegiate license plate shall pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the funds to the appropriate collegiate license plate fund as provided in RCW 28B.10.890.
     (4) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application and registration of a motor vehicle, the holder of a special baseball stadium license plate shall pay an initial fee of forty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds, minus the cost of plate production, shall be distributed to a county for the purpose of paying the principal and interest payments on bonds issued by the county to construct a baseball stadium, as defined in RCW 82.14.0485, including reasonably necessary preconstruction costs, while the taxes are being collected under RCW 82.14.360. After this date, the state treasurer shall credit the funds to the state general fund.
     (5) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon renewal of a motor vehicle registration, the holder of a special baseball stadium license plate shall pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds shall be distributed to a county for the purpose of paying the principal and interest payments on bonds issued by the county to construct a baseball stadium, as defined in RCW 82.14.0485, including reasonably necessary preconstruction costs, while the taxes are being collected under RCW 82.14.360. After this date, the state treasurer shall credit the funds to the state general fund.
     (6) Effective with vehicle registrations due or to become due on January 1, 2005, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application and registration of a vehicle, the holder of a professional fire fighters and paramedics license plate shall pay an initial fee of forty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds must be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. Under RCW 46.16.755, the state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the motor vehicle account until the department determines that the state has been reimbursed for the cost of implementing the professional fire fighters and paramedics license plates. Upon the determination by the department that the state has been reimbursed, the treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters benevolent fund established under RCW 46.16.30902.
     (7) Effective with annual renewals due or to become due on January 1, 2006, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon renewal of a vehicle registration, the holder of a professional fire fighters and paramedics license plate shall, upon application, pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds must be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. Under RCW 46.16.755, the state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the motor vehicle account until the department determines that the state has been reimbursed for the cost of implementing the professional fire fighters and paramedics special license plate. Upon the determination by the department that the state has been reimbursed, the treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters benevolent fund established under RCW 46.16.30902.
     (8) Effective with vehicle registrations due or to become due on November 1, 2004, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application and registration of a vehicle, the holder of a "Helping Kids Speak" license plate shall pay an initial fee of forty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds must be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. Pursuant to RCW 46.16.755, the state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the motor vehicle account until the department determines that the state has been reimbursed for the cost of implementing the "Helping Kids Speak" special license plate. Upon the determination by the department that the state has been reimbursed, the treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the "Helping Kids Speak" account established under RCW 46.16.30904.
     (9) Effective with annual renewals due or to become due on November 1, 2005, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon renewal of a vehicle registration, the holder of a "Helping Kids Speak" license plate shall, upon application, pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds must be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. Pursuant to RCW 46.16.755, the state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the motor vehicle account until the department determines that the state has been reimbursed for the cost of implementing the "Helping Kids Speak" special license plate. Upon the determination by the department that the state has been reimbursed, the treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the "Helping Kids Speak" account established under RCW 46.16.30904.
     (10) Effective with vehicle registrations due or to become due on January 1, 2005, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application and registration of a vehicle, the holder of a "law enforcement memorial" license plate shall pay an initial fee of forty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. Pursuant to RCW 46.16.755, the state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the motor vehicle account until the department determines that the state has been reimbursed for the cost of implementing the law enforcement memorial special license plate. Upon the determination by the department that the state has been reimbursed, the treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the law enforcement memorial account established under RCW 46.16.30906.
     (11) Effective with annual renewals due or to become due on January 1, 2006, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon renewal of a vehicle registration, the holder of a "law enforcement memorial" license plate shall, upon application, pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. Pursuant to RCW 46.16.755, the state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the motor vehicle account until the department determines that the state has been reimbursed for the cost of implementing the law enforcement memorial special license plate. Upon the determination by the department that the state has been reimbursed, the treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the law enforcement memorial account established under RCW 46.16.30906.
     (12)(a) Effective with vehicle registrations due or to become due on or after January 1, 2006, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application and registration of a vehicle, the holder of a "Washington Lighthouses" license plate shall pay an initial fee of forty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds must be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. Under RCW 46.16.755, the state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the motor vehicle account until the department determines that the state has been reimbursed for the cost of implementing the "Washington Lighthouses" license plate. Upon determination by the department that the state has been reimbursed, the treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the lighthouse environmental programs account established under section 4 of this act.
     (b) Effective with annual renewals due or to become due on or after January 1, 2007, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon renewal of a vehicle registration, the holder of a "Washington Lighthouses" license plate shall, upon application, pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds must be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. Under RCW 46.16.755, the state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the motor vehicle account until the department determines that the state has been reimbursed for the cost of implementing the "Washington Lighthouses" license plate. Upon determination by the department that the state has been reimbursed, the treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the lighthouse environmental programs account established under section 4 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The lighthouse environmental programs account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Upon the department's determination that the state had been reimbursed for the cost of implementing the "Washington Lighthouses" special license plate, all receipts, except as provided in RCW 46.16.313(12) (a) and (b), from "Washington Lighthouses" license plates must be deposited into the account. Only the director of the department of licensing or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
     (2) Funds in the account must be disbursed subject to the following conditions and limitations:
     (a) Under the requirements set out in RCW 46.16.765, the department must contract with a qualified nonprofit organization to support selected Washington state lighthouses that are accessible to the public and staffed by volunteers; to provide environmental education programs; and to provide grants for other Washington lighthouses to assist in funding infrastructure preservation and restoration and to encourage and support interpretive programs by lighthouse docents.
     (b) For the purpose of this section, a "qualified nonprofit organization" means a not-for-profit corporation incorporated and of tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code. The organization must have been established for the express purposes of supporting selected Washington state lighthouses that are open to the public and staffed by volunteers; providing environmental education programs; and encouraging and supporting interpretive programs by lighthouse docents.
     (c) The qualified nonprofit organization must meet all requirements set out in RCW 46.16.765.