5509-S AMH HUDG MUNN 184

SSB 5509 - H AMD 541

By Representative Hudgins

ADOPTED 4/13/2009

    On page 1, line 14, after "fees," insert "child restraint system rental fees,"

    On page 2, beginning on line 18, strike all of subsection (5), and insert the following:

    "(5) The following definitions apply to this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise: 

    (a) "Vehicle license cost recovery fee" means a charge that may be separately stated and charged on the rental contract in a car rental transaction originating in Washington state to recover costs incurred in the state of Washington by a rental car company to license, title, register, plate, and inspect rental cars; and

    (b) "Child restraint system rental fee" means a charge that may be separately stated and charged on the rental contract in a car rental transaction originating in Washington state to recover the costs associated with providing child restraint systems."

    On page 2, after line 24, insert the following:

    "(6)(a) If a rental car company includes a child restraint system rental fee as a separately stated charge in a rental transaction, the amount of the fee must represent no more than the rental car company's good faith estimate of the rental car company's costs to provide a child restraint system.

    (b) If a rental car customer pays a child restraint system rental fee and the child restraint system is not available in a timely manner, as determined by the rental car customer, but in no case less than one hour after the arrival of the customer at the location where the customer receives the vehicle or vehicles, (a) the customer may cancel any reservation or other agreement for the rental of the vehicle or vehicles, (b) any costs or penalties associated with the cancellation are void, and (c) the customer is entitled to a full refund of any costs associated with the rental of the vehicle or vehicles."

EFFECT:

           (1) Rental car businesses may include a child restraint system rental fee as a separately stated charge in a rental transaction, in which case the amount of the fee must represent no more than the rental car company's good faith estimate of the rental car company's costs to provide a child restraint system.

           (2) Rental car customers who reserve a child restraint system are allowed to cancel the reservation for the vehicle without penalty and receive a full refund if the child restraint system is not provided within one hour of the customer's arrival at the location where the customer expects to receive the vehicle.

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