Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Transportation Committee

HB 1136

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:

The Department of Licensing (DOL) issues special vehicle license plates that may be used in lieu of standard plates. A governmental or nonprofit sponsoring organization seeking to sponsor a special plate either submits an application to the DOL or requests legislation to create the special plate. Generally, the sponsoring organization seeking to sponsor the special plate is required to reimburse the DOL for the costs of establishing the new special plate.

For special license plates that are enacted by the Legislature, a sponsoring organization must, within 30 days of enactment, submit prepayment of all start-up costs to the DOL. If the sponsoring organization is not able to meet the prepayment requirement, revenues generated from the sale of the special license plate are first used to pay off any costs associated with establishing the new plate. The sponsoring organization must also provide a proposed license plate design to the DOL. Additionally, the sponsoring organization must submit an annual financial report to the DOL detailing actual revenues generated from the sale of the special license plate.

There is a moratorium on the issuance of new special license plates until June 30, 2011.

Summary of Bill:

The bill creates the volunteer firefighter special license plate, which would depict a symbol, description, or artwork that recognizes volunteer firefighters. In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application for a vehicle registration, a fee of $28 would be charged for a volunteer firefighter special license plate and a $2 renewal fee would be charged for renewal of a volunteer firefighter special license plate. The DOL shall apply all fees collected from the volunteer firefighters special license plate towards administration and collection expenses incurred by the DOL.

An applicant for the initial volunteer firefighter special license plate must be a volunteer firefighter for at least one year and must have documentation of service from the appropriate fire service district. The volunteer firefighter special license plate must be surrendered if the volunteer firefighter leaves firefighting between two and 10 years after the plate is issued. If the volunteer firefighter stays in service for at least 10 years and then leaves, the license plate will be retained by the former volunteer firefighter, and the person will continue to pay the future registration renewals. A qualifying firefighter may have no more than two sets of plates per vehicle for each of their vehicles and, if the volunteer firefighter is convicted of a felony, the license plate must be surrendered upon conviction.