FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1450

                                  C 102 L 90

BYHouse Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives R. Meyers, Heavey, Schmidt, Walk, D. Sommers, Todd, Kremen, Jones, Zellinsky, Haugen, Wood, Prentice, Cooper, Chandler and Winsley)

Regulating motor fuel quality.

House Committe on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Motor gasoline standards were first established in 1937, and have been updated nearly every year since 1970.  Currently, 39 states have motor fuel quality standards.  Twenty-nine require all motor fuels to meet the standards of the American Society of Testing and Materials, and 10 states have set their own standards.  Eleven states, including Washington, have no motor fuel quality laws.

SUMMARY:

A motor fuel quality program is established within the Department of Agriculture.  The department is authorized to sample and test all motor vehicle fuels sold in the state.  All motor vehicle fuels must be registered before being offered for sale.  A willful violation of this provision is punishable as a misdemeanor.

A civil penalty ranging from $100 to $10,000 is created.  The penalty will be assessed on the degree of severity of the violation, and the violator's previous history.  All civil penalties are to be deposited in the motor vehicle fund.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 95   0

      Senate    48     0 (Senate amended)

      House 94   0 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 1, 1990