HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1883

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.

As Amended by the Senate

Title: An act relating to simplifying and updating statutes related to fuel tax administration.

Brief Description: Simplifying and updating statutes related to fuel tax administration.

Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Fitzgibbon, Orcutt, Riccelli, Farrell and Liias; by request of Department of Licensing).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 2/25/13, 2/26/13 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/13/13, 94-3.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate: 4/15/13, 46-2.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Consolidates the motor vehicle fuel and special fuel tax statutes into a single statutory scheme.

  • Amends the aviation fuel tax statutes to make these statutes more consistent with the motor vehicle fuel and special fuel tax statutes.

  • Amends various statutes to reflect the consolidation of the fuel tax statutes.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 28 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Fey, Vice Chair; Liias, Vice Chair; Moscoso, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Overstreet, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Angel, Bergquist, Farrell, Fitzgibbon, Freeman, Habib, Hayes, Johnson, Kochmar, Kristiansen, Moeller, Morris, O'Ban, Riccelli, Rodne, Ryu, Sells, Shea, Takko, Tarleton and Upthegrove.

Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).

Background:

Transportation funding in Washington is supported by a variety of taxes and fees. The majority of statewide transportation revenue comes from a 37.5-cent-per-gallon tax on motor vehicle and special fuel. The 18th Amendment to the Washington Constitution requires that the proceeds of these taxes, as well as vehicle license fees, be deposited in the Motor Vehicle Fund. Monies in that fund are restricted, again by the 18th Amendment, to highway purposes only, as defined in the amendment.

Prior to 1999 taxes on motor vehicle fuel and special fuel were collected by the Department of Licensing (DOL) from fuel distributors.  At that time, there were approximately 740 licensed fuel distributors in Washington.  In addition, approximately 27,000 individuals held licenses that allowed them to purchase fuel without paying taxes at the time of purchase. In 1998 the imposition of fuel taxes was modified so that it occurred at the time of removal of such fuel from the terminal rack.  This is referred to as "tax-at-the-rack," and there are currently 24 terminals in the State of Washington.  The taxes imposed at the terminal rack are remitted to the DOL.

The taxes on motor vehicle fuel, special fuel, and aviation fuel are each imposed pursuant to separate RCW chapters. These different chapters have been separately amended over time, and thus differ in a variety of ways.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The statutory definitions are amended to reflect the consolidation of the motor vehicle and special fuel tax (fuel tax) statutes. The imposition of the fuel taxes is modified for the same purpose, and is also amended in order to reflect a simplified license structure, which is also implemented throughout the consolidated statutes, and the imposition of the fuel tax when fuel enters the state outside the bulk transfer system. The establishment of liability for the fuel taxes is also consolidated in a single section, and the DOL is granted the authority to calculate tax rates related to international fuel tax agreements.

The transactions where the purchaser is exempt from the payments of fuel taxes are consolidated into a single section. The information and investigations related to applications for licenses for fuel distribution are consolidated, and the requirement that applicants for fuel tax licenses submit fingerprint cards and financial statements to the DOL is removed. The ability of the DOL to suspend, revoke, or deny a license is also included in a single section. The exemptions from fuel taxes are also placed in a single section, along with certain items that were previously refunds.

Stocks of raw gasoline, gasoline stock, diesel oil, kerosene, kerosene distillates, casing head gasoline, and other petroleum products which may be used in the compounding, blending, or manufacturing of fuel are added to the record requirements imposed on persons importing, manufacturing, refining, transporting, blending, or storing fuel.

In general, the penalty rate structure is maintained at roughly the same level, except for failure to file a tax return and failure to timely pay taxes, which are equalized at the higher level currently in place for special fuel and aircraft fuel taxes. A licensee who has been assessed a penalty for nonpayment of taxes is granted the ability to request a hearing regarding the assessment. The process for investigation of tax obligations, obtaining liens, providing notifications regarding delinquencies, and seizures and sales for delinquencies is simplified and consolidated. The unlawful acts and penalties related to fuel taxes are also consolidated in a single section.

New statutory sections related to fuel taxes are created, including ones that involve the following areas:

The statutes governing the imposition and collection of aviation fuel taxes are created and modified in a variety of ways, in order to make the statutes more consistent with the fuel tax statutes, including the following:

The RCW chapter governing the collection of motor vehicle fuel tax is repealed.

A variety of statutes containing references to the fuel taxes are modified to reflect the consolidation of the fuel tax statutes.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):

Corrects a statutory reference, so that it refers to the correct RCW chapter, and references the appropriate activity undertaken pursuant to that chapter.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect July 1, 2015.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill consolidates the fuel tax statutes for both ease of administration and ease of understanding on the part of the licensees. It would also remove the current fingerprint requirements, which have never been used, and reduces the number of license types from 15 to six, which should also simplify administration.

This bill does two separate things. First of all, it simplifies and updates statutes that have been adopted piecemeal over time. Second, it makes some policy changes in the form of removing the current fingerprint requirements, limiting the license types, eliminating certain fuel tax credits, and requiring inventory reporting to the state that is already required by the federal government.

The DOL worked with industry to put together this bill, and it would help the adoption of new computer systems for fuel tax collection.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Fitzgibbon, prime sponsor; and Tony Sermonti, Department of Licensing.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.