BILL REQ. #:  H-3773.1 



_____________________________________________ 

HOUSE BILL 2752
_____________________________________________
State of Washington63rd Legislature2014 Regular Session

By Representatives Walkinshaw, Clibborn, Tarleton, Riccelli, Moscoso, Ortiz-Self, Johnson, and Bergquist

Read first time 01/31/14.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.



     AN ACT Relating to Washington state tree special license plates; amending RCW 46.18.200, 46.17.220, and 46.68.420; reenacting and amending RCW 46.18.060; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.18.200 and 2013 c 286 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Special license plate series reviewed and approved by the department:
     (a) May be issued in lieu of standard issue or personalized license plates for vehicles required to display one and two license plates unless otherwise specified;
     (b) Must be issued under terms and conditions established by the department;
     (c) Must not be issued for vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW; and
     (d) Must display a symbol or artwork approved by the department.
     (2) The department approves and shall issue the following special license plates:

LICENSE PLATEDESCRIPTION, SYMBOL, OR ARTWORK
4-HDisplays the "4-H" logo.
Armed forces collectionRecognizes the contribution of veterans, active duty military personnel, reservists, and members of the national guard, and includes six separate designs, each containing a symbol representing a different branch of the armed forces to include army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, and national guard.
Endangered wildlifeDisplays a symbol or artwork symbolizing endangered wildlife in Washington state.
Gonzaga University alumni associationRecognizes the Gonzaga University alumni association.
Helping kids speakRecognizes an organization that supports programs that provide no-cost speech pathology programs to children.
Keep kids safeRecognizes efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Law enforcement memorialHonors law enforcement officers in Washington killed in the line of duty.
Music mattersDisplays the "Music Matters" logo.
Professional firefighters and paramedicsRecognizes professional firefighters and paramedics who are members of the Washington state council of firefighters.
Seattle SeahawksDisplays the "Seattle Seahawks" logo.
Seattle Sounders FCDisplays the "Seattle Sounders FC" logo.
Share the road
Recognizes an organization that promotes bicycle safety and awareness education.
Ski & ride WashingtonRecognizes the Washington snowsports industry.
State flowerRecognizes the Washington state flower.
State treeRecognizes the Washington state tree.
Volunteer firefightersRecognizes volunteer firefighters.
Washington lighthousesRecognizes an organization that supports selected Washington state lighthouses and provides environmental education programs.
Washington state parksRecognizes Washington state parks as premier destinations of uncommon quality that preserve significant natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources.
Washington's national park fundBuilds awareness of Washington's national parks and supports priority park programs and projects in Washington's national parks, such as enhancing visitor experience, promoting volunteerism, engaging communities, and providing educational opportunities related to Washington's national parks.
Washington's wildlife collectionRecognizes Washington's wildlife.
We love our petsRecognizes an organization that assists local member agencies of the federation of animal welfare and control agencies to promote and perform spay/neuter surgery on Washington state pets to reduce pet overpopulation.
Wild on WashingtonSymbolizes wildlife viewing in Washington state.


     (3) Applicants for initial and renewal professional firefighters and paramedics special license plates must show proof eligibility by providing a certificate of current membership from the Washington state council of firefighters.
     (4) Applicants for initial volunteer firefighters special license plates must (a) have been a volunteer firefighter for at least ten years or be a volunteer firefighter for one or more years and (b) have documentation of service from the district of the appropriate fire service. If the volunteer firefighter leaves firefighting service before ten years of service have been completed, the volunteer firefighter shall surrender the license plates to the department on the registration renewal date. If the volunteer firefighter stays in service for at least ten years and then leaves, the license plate may be retained by the former volunteer firefighter and as long as the license plate is retained for use the person will continue to pay the future registration renewals. A qualifying volunteer firefighter may have no more than one set of license plates per vehicle, and a maximum of two sets per applicant, for their personal vehicles. If the volunteer firefighter is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or a felony, the license plates must be surrendered upon conviction.

Sec. 2   RCW 46.17.220 and 2013 c 286 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application for a vehicle registration in chapter 46.16A RCW, the holder of a special license plate shall pay the appropriate special license plate fee as listed in this section.

PLATE TYPEINITIAL FEERENEWAL FEEDISTRIBUTED UNDER
(a) 4-H$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(b) Amateur radio license$ 5.00 N/ARCW 46.68.070
(c) Armed forces$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.425
(d) Baseball stadium$ 40.00$ 30.00Subsection (2) of this section
(e) Collector vehicle$ 35.00 N/ARCW 46.68.030
(f) Collegiate$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.430
(g) Endangered wildlife$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.425
(h) Gonzaga University      alumni association$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(i) Helping kids speak$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(j) Horseless carriage$ 35.00 N/ARCW 46.68.030
(k) Keep kids safe$ 45.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.425
(l) Law enforcement      memorial$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(m) Military affiliate radio      system$ 5.00 N/ARCW 46.68.070
(n) Music matters$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(o) Professional firefighters      and paramedics$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(p) Ride share$ 25.00 N/ARCW 46.68.030
(q) Seattle Seahawks$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(r) Seattle Sounders FC$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(s) Share the road$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(t) Ski & ride Washington$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(u) Square dancer$ 40.00 N/ARCW 46.68.070
(v) State flower$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(w) State tree$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(x) Volunteer firefighters$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(((x))) (y) Washington      lighthouses$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(((y))) (z) Washington state      parks$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.425
(((z))) (aa) Washington's      national parks$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(((aa))) (bb) Washington's      wildlife collection$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.425
(((bb))) (cc) We love our      pets$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.420
(((cc))) (dd) Wild on      Washington$ 40.00$ 30.00RCW 46.68.425


     (2) After deducting administration and collection expenses for the sale of baseball stadium license plates, the remaining proceeds must 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.

Sec. 3   RCW 46.68.420 and 2013 c 286 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall:
     (a) Collect special license plate fees established under RCW 46.17.220;
     (b) Deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars for initial issue and two dollars for renewal issue for administration and collection expenses incurred by it; and
     (c) Remit the remaining proceeds to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report.
     (2) 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 special license plate. Upon determination by the department that the state has been reimbursed, the state treasurer shall credit the remaining special license plate fee amounts for each special license plate to the following appropriate account as created in this section in the custody of the state treasurer:

ACCOUNTCONDITIONS FOR USE OF FUNDS
4-H programsSupport Washington 4-H programs
Gonzaga University alumni associationScholarship funds to needy and qualified students attending or planning to attend Gonzaga University
Helping kids speakProvide free diagnostic and therapeutic services to families of children who suffer from a delay in language or speech development
Law enforcement memorialProvide support and assistance to survivors and families of law enforcement officers in Washington killed in the line of duty and to organize, finance, fund, construct, utilize, and maintain a memorial on the state capitol grounds to honor those fallen officers
Lighthouse environmental programsSupport selected Washington state lighthouses that are accessible to the public and staffed by volunteers; provide environmental education programs; provide grants for other Washington lighthouses to assist in funding infrastructure preservation and restoration; encourage and support interpretive programs by lighthouse docents
Music matters awarenessPromote music education in schools throughout Washington
Seattle SeahawksProvide funds to InvestED to encourage secondary students who have economic needs to stay in school, return to school, or get involved within their learning community
Seattle Sounders FCProvide funds to Washington state mentors and the association of Washington generals created in RCW 43.15.030 in the following manner: (a) Seventy percent and the remaining proceeds, if any, to Washington state mentors, to increase the number of mentors in the state by offering mentoring grants throughout Washington state that foster positive youth development and academic success, with up to twenty percent of these proceeds authorized for program administration costs; and (b) up to thirty percent, not to exceed forty-thousand dollars annually as adjusted for inflation by the office of financial management, to the association of Washington generals, to develop Washington state educational, veterans, international relations, and civics projects and to recognize the outstanding public service of individuals or groups in the state of Washington
Share the roadPromote bicycle safety and awareness education in communities throughout Washington
Ski & ride WashingtonPromote winter snowsports, such as skiing and snowboarding, and related programs, such as ski and ride safety programs, underprivileged youth ski and ride programs, and active, healthy lifestyle programs
State flowerSupport meerkerk rhododendron gardens and provide for grants to other qualified nonprofit organizations' efforts to preserve rhododendrons
State treeSupport Washington park arboretum and provide funds to the arboretum foundation to support the University of Washington botanic gardens' environmental education programs for children and support the University of Washington botanic gardens and the city of Seattle for maintenance of the arboretum
Volunteer firefightersReceive and disseminate funds for purposes on behalf of volunteer firefighters, their families, and others deemed in need
Washington state council of firefighters benevolent fundReceive and disseminate funds for charitable purposes on behalf of members of the Washington state council of firefighters, their families, and others deemed in need
Washington's national park fundBuild awareness of Washington's national parks and support priority park programs and projects in Washington's national parks, such as enhancing visitor experience, promoting volunteerism, engaging communities, and providing educational opportunities related to Washington's national parks
We love our petsSupport and enable the Washington federation of animal welfare and control agencies to promote and perform spay/neuter surgery of Washington state pets in order to reduce pet population


     (3) Only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the accounts described in subsection (2) of this section. The accounts are subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
     (4) Funds in the special license plate accounts described in subsection (2) of this section must be disbursed subject to the conditions described in subsection (2) of this section and under contract between the department and qualified nonprofit organizations that provide the services described in subsection (2) of this section.
     (5) For the purposes of this section, a "qualified nonprofit organization" means a not-for-profit corporation operating in Washington that has received a determination of tax exempt status under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3). The qualified nonprofit organization must meet all the requirements under RCW 46.18.100(1).

Sec. 4   RCW 46.18.060 and 2013 c 306 s 703 and 2013 c 286 s 5 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department must review and either approve or reject special license plate applications submitted by sponsoring organizations.
     (2) Duties of the department include, but are not limited to, the following:
     (a) Review and approve the annual financial reports submitted by sponsoring organizations with active special license plate series and present those annual financial reports to the joint transportation committee;
     (b) Report annually to the joint transportation committee on the special license plate applications that were considered by the department;
     (c) Issue approval and rejection notification letters to sponsoring organizations, the executive committee of the joint transportation committee, and the legislative sponsors identified in each application. The letters must be issued within seven days of making a determination on the status of an application; and
     (d) Review annually the number of plates sold for each special license plate series created after January 1, 2003. The department may submit a recommendation to discontinue a special plate series to the executive committee of the joint transportation committee.
     (3) In order to assess the effects and impact of the proliferation of special license plates, the legislature declares a temporary moratorium on the issuance of any additional plates until July 1, 2015. During this period of time, the department is prohibited from accepting, reviewing, processing, or approving any applications. Additionally, a special license plate may not be enacted by the legislature during the moratorium, unless the proposed license plate has been approved by the former special license plate review board before February 15, 2005.
     (4) The limitations under subsection (3) of this section do not apply to the following special license plates:
     (a) 4-H license plates created under RCW 46.18.200;
     (b) Gold star license plates created under RCW 46.18.245;
     (c) Music Matters license plates created under RCW 46.18.200;
     (d) Seattle Seahawks license plates created under RCW 46.18.200;
     (e) Seattle Sounders FC license plates created under RCW 46.18.200;
     (f) State flower license plates created under RCW 46.18.200;
     (g) State tree license plates created under RCW 46.18.200;
     (h) Volunteer firefighter license plates created under RCW 46.18.200.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:
     "State tree license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the Washington state tree.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   This act takes effect January 1, 2015.

--- END ---