SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6251

BYSenators Rasmussen, Patterson, Saling, Thorsness, Wojahn, Bender, Conner and Kreidler

Revising requirements for special license plates for prisoners of war spouses.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 24, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; von Reichbauer, Vice Chairman; Barr, Bender, Conner, Hansen, Madsen, Murray, Nelson, Patrick.

Senate Staff:Louise Bray Sandison (786-7322)

                  February 8, 1990

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 7, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Under current laws, surviving spouses of deceased prisoners of war are eligible to be issued one set of regular or special license plates for use on a personal passenger vehicle registered to that person.  In order to qualify, the surviving spouse must have been married to the prisoner of war during his or her period of incarceration.  A prisoner of war is defined as a person who, during military service, was captured and incarcerated by an enemy of the United States for more than 29 days during a period of war.

These plates are issued without payment of motor vehicle excise tax or license fees.

SUMMARY:

A surviving spouse of a prisoner of war need not have been married to the prisoner of war during the period of his or her incarceration in order to be eligible for the free regular or special plates.

However, if the surviving spouse remarries, the plates must be returned and application for regular license plates made within 15 days.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Chuck Town, AXPOW