FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5047

                                   C 98 L 87

BYSenate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Rasmussen, Saling and Johnson)

Issuing special license plates to spouses of deceased POW's.

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committe on Transportation

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

People currently receiving special free license plates include prisoners of war, permanently disabled veterans and Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.  The special license plates which may be purchased from the Department include license plates for (1) vehicles more than 30 years old, (2) amateur radio operators, (3) handicapped persons meeting certain criteria, and (4) personalized license plates.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Licensing shall issue a set of special vehicle license plates to the surviving spouse of any deceased former prisoner of war for use on a passenger vehicle.  The plates shall be issued free of charge, and may be transferred to another vehicle registered to the surviving spouse in the same manner as the transfer of a personalized license plate.

In order to qualify for the POW license plate, the surviving spouse must have been married to the deceased former prisoner of war during the period of his or her incarceration.

The Director of the Department of Licensing shall approve the distinctive design of the special plate.

The current law which provides for special free license plates for disabled veterans is modified to allow the Department of Licensing to accept proof of a service-connected disability rating from the military service from which the veteran was discharged, in lieu of proof from the Veterans' Administration.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    44     0

      House 90   5 (House amended)

      Senate    47     0 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 26, 1987