SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5568

BYSenators von Reichbauer, Hansen, Patterson, Madsen, Sellar, DeJarnatt and Conner

Adjusting fees charged by county auditors and subagents.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 22, 1989; March 1, 1989; January 23, 1990

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5568 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; von Reichbauer, Vice Chairman; Barr, Bender, Benitz, DeJarnatt, Hansen, McMullen, Madsen, Murray, Nelson, Patrick, Sellar.

Senate Staff:Brad Lovaas (786-7307)

                  January 25, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JANUARY 23, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The county auditors are the Department of Licensing's (DOL) official agents for the titling and registration of motor vehicles.  In turn, the county auditors may appoint subagents, with DOL approval, throughout the county to service the general public.

There are 39 auditors, 157 subagents and the county 40 desk at DOL headquarters in Olympia.  During a period of a year from August, 1987 through July, 1988 these 197 licensing agencies completed over 6 million transactions.

The services provided by the county auditors and their subagents, private businesses, include vehicle and vessel titling and registration, license renewal, collection of vehicle tonnage fees, and issuance of various permits.

Currently there is a $2.00 filing fee which must accompany any application for registration or other licensing applications.  There is a $3.00 filing fee for applying for a title.  The filing fees are remitted to the county current expense fund whether the work is performed by the county auditor or a subagent.  If the subagent provides the licensing authority then they are provided with an additional $2.00 service charge.

SUMMARY:

The current $3.00 fee charged by counties for a title application is raised to $5.00 (with or without registration).  The fee for subagents is raised from $2.00 to $5.00.

A fee for preparation and verification of titles is established at $4.00 for county auditors and $5.00 for subagents.

The "no-fee" permits to allow a motor vehicle a one-day licensing period for inspection purposes is changed to a transit permit.  A fee of $2.00 is established for its issuance.

Fifty percent of all fees remitted to county expense fund shall be used for vehicle licensing purposes.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Clarifying languages makes it clear that neither county auditors nor subagents prepare lost titles.  They do prepare affidavits of lost titles.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE:

Fee increases for the county auditors are deleted.  The fee increases for subagents remain in the bill.

The provision that 50 percent of all fees remitted to county expense fund shall be used for vehicle licensing purposes is deleted.

Filing fees collected by the Washington State Patrol shall be deposited in the State Patrol highway account.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    yes

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Nancy Kelly, DOL; Rick Jensen, WSP; Pam Barrett, Washington Association of Vehicle Subagents; Bob Shannon, President, Washington Association of Vehicle Subagents; Dena McCallum, Washington Association of Vehicle Subagents.