SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6016

BYSenate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senator Peterson)

Revising transportation-related fees and taxes.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):May 6, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6016 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Peterson, Chairman; Hansen, Vice Chairman; Bender, Conner, DeJarnatt, Halsan, Nelson, Patterson, Smitherman, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Gene Schlatter (786-7316)

                  May 8, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, MAY 7, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Revenue projections indicate shortfalls for the Washington State Patrol, the Marine Division of the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Driver Services Division of the Department of Licensing.

The shortfall in the Washington State Patrol is in the State Patrol Highway Account within the Motor Vehicle Fund (MVF).  This account is funded by motor vehicle registration fees--$15.60 of the $23.00 for new registrations and $15.60 of the $19.00 renewal fee.

Revenue sources for the Marine Division include the Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account (PSFOA) within the MVF, ferry fares and miscellaneous revenues.  27.3 percent of the motor vehicle registration fees and 3.21 percent of the 17-cent motor vehicle fuel tax are deposited in the PSFOA.

The shortfall for the Driver Services Division of the Department of Licensing is in the Highway Safety Fund.  Revenue sources include $10.20 of the $14.00 license fee and the $3.50 charge for copies of record.

SUMMARY:

Vehicle registration fees are increased $4.75 to fund the State Patrol.

The fee for copies of drivers license abstracts is increased $1.00 (from $3.50 to $4.50).

The Marine Division of the Department of Transportation is funded, as follows:  (a) 0.1 percent increase in MVET effective for 1988 and 1989; (b) the unmatched portion of the local transit MVET is transferred to the Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account beginning January 1, 1990; and (c) diesel fuel used by ferries is exempt from the sales tax.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: No one