SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5025

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 Passed Senate, February 25, 2015

Title: An act relating to the apportionment of quick title service fees collected by appointed subagents.

Brief Description: Modifying the apportionment of quick title service fees collected by appointed subagents.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Rivers, Cleveland and Benton).

Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/22/15, 1/26/15 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 2/25/15, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5025 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators King, Chair; Fain, Vice Chair; Hobbs, Ranking Minority Member; Baumgartner, Cleveland, Ericksen, Habib, Jayapal, Miloscia, Pedersen and Rivers.

Staff: Amanda Cecil (786-7429)

Background: A certificate of title is required to operate, sell, or transfer a vehicle in Washington State. A certificate of title has a similar function for vessels but is not required. It generally takes six to eight weeks after application to receive a certificate of title. There is a $15 title fee and a $12 service fee due on a certificate of title. If certain conditions are met an applicant can apply for a quick title. A quick title is issued to the applicant immediately and is subject to an additional quick title fee of $50. If the quick title is processed by the Department of Licensing, the $50 fee is deposited into the Motor Vehicle Fund for a vehicle or to the general fund for a vessel. If the quick title is processed by an auditor, an agent, or a subagent, $25 of the fee is retained by the county treasurer and the remaining $25 is deposited into the Motor Vehicle Fund for a vehicle or the general fund for a vessel.

Summary of Substitute Bill: When a vehicle or vessel quick title is processed by a subagent, $12.50 of the fee that was retained by the county stays with the subagent that processed the transaction.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on January 1, 2016.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This allows subagents to receive payment for the work that they do.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Rivers, prime sponsor.