H-348                _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 585

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Nutley, Peery, Sutherland, Cooper, L. Smith, Walk and P. King

Read first time 2/4/87 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to motor vehicle registration requirements; and amending RCW 46.16.028 and 46.85.060.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 353, Laws of 1985 as amended by section 2, chapter 186, Laws of 1986 and RCW 46.16.028 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) For the purposes of vehicle license registration, a resident is a person who:

          (a) Owns a vehicle that is licensable under this chapter and that is physically present in the state of Washington more than six months in any continuous twelve-month period; or

          (b) Resides in this state more than six months in any continuous twelve-month period; or

(c) Becomes a registered voter in this state; or

          (d) Receives benefits under one of the Washington public assistance programs; or

          (e) Declares ((himself to be)) that he or she is a resident for the purpose of obtaining a state license or tuition fees at resident rates.

          (2) The term "Washington public assistance programs" referred to in subsection (1)(d) of this section includes only public assistance programs for which more than fifty percent of the combined costs of benefits and administration are paid from state funds.  Programs which are not included within the term "Washington public assistance programs" pursuant to the above criteria include, but are not limited to the food stamp program under the federal food stamp act of 1964; programs under the child nutrition act of 1966, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 1771 through 1788; and aid to families with dependent children, 42 U.S.C. Secs. 601 through 606.

(3) A resident of the state shall register under chapters 46.12 and 46.16 RCW a vehicle to be operated on the highways of the state.  New Washington residents shall be allowed sixty days from the date they become residents as defined in this section to procure Washington registration for their vehicles.  This sixty-day period shall not be combined with any other period of reciprocity provided for in this chapter or chapter 46.85 RCW.

        Sec. 2.  Section 6, chapter 106, Laws of 1963 as last amended by section 3, chapter 353, Laws of 1985 and RCW 46.85.060 are each amended to read as follows:

          In the absence of an agreement or arrangement with another jurisdiction, the department may examine the laws and requirements of such jurisdiction and declare the extent and nature of exemptions, benefits and privileges to be extended to vehicles properly registered or licensed in such other jurisdiction, or to the owners of such vehicles, which shall, in the judgment of the department, be in the best interest of this state and the citizens thereof and which shall be fair and equitable to this state and the citizens thereof, and all of the same shall be determined on the basis and recognition of the benefits which accrue to the economy of this state from the uninterrupted flow of commerce.  Declarations of exemptions, benefits, and privileges issued by the department shall include at least the following exemptions:

          (1) Nonresident persons not employed in the state of Washington may operate a vehicle in this state that is currently licensed in another jurisdiction for a period not to exceed ((one hundred eighty days in a calendar year)) six months in any continuous twelve-month period, but a nonresident person employed in Washington ((for more than one hundred eighty days)) may operate a vehicle licensed in another jurisdiction as long as no permanent, temporary, or part-time residence is maintained in this state.

          (2) Nonresident salespersons based at a location outside Washington are permitted to operate vehicles not to exceed twelve thousand pounds registered gross vehicle weight licensed in another jurisdiction in this state without registration of the vehicle.

          (3) A vehicle or a combination of vehicles, not exceeding a registered gross or combined gross vehicle weight of twelve thousand pounds, which is properly base licensed in another jurisdiction((,)) and ((used for business purposes in this state)) registered to a bona fide business in that jurisdiction is not required to obtain Washington vehicle license registration except when such vehicle is owned or operated by a business or branch office of a business located in Washington.

          (4) The department of licensing, after consultation with the department of revenue, shall adopt such rules as it deems necessary for the administration of these exemptions, benefits, and privileges.