Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Transportation Committee

HB 1668

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background:

At least once every four years, Department of Licensing (DOL) determines the amount of money that is paid for fuel tax that is used in snowmobiles. Presently the calculation is done by using 135 gallons of fuel as the average yearly usage per snowmobile. Currently there are approximately 37,000 snowmobiles in the State of Washington.

The moneys collected by the DOL is deposited into the Snowmobile Account from the Motor Vehicle Account. Presently the tax rate used to determine the amount to be transferred is 21 cents per gallon from July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2009; 22 cents per gallon from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2011, and 23 cents per gallon beginning July 1, 2011, and there after.The Snowmobile Account is administered by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Commission). The funds can be expended for the administration, acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of snowmobile facilities and development and implementation of snowmobile safety, enforcement, and education programs. The Commission is authorized to make grants to public agencies and to contract with any public or private agency or person for the purpose of developing and implementing snowmobile programs.

Within the Commission there is a snowmobile advisory committee to assist and advise the Commission in the planned development of snowmobile facilities and programs. The committee members are six interested snowmobilers and three representatives of the non-snowmobiling public appointed by the Commission; and one representative of the Department of Natural Resources, one representative of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and one representative of the Washington State Association of Counties; each of whom shall be appointed by the director of such department or association.

Summary of Bill:

The bill requires the DOL to use a fuel tax rate equal to the motor vehicle fuel tax rate when determining fuel tax distributions to the Snowmobile Account. The calculation would be the number of snowmobiles times 135 gallons per year times the current fuel tax rate, which presently is 37.5 cents per gallon.