S-1770               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 5420

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Patterson, Bender, DeJarnatt, Rasmussen and West)

Read first time 2/17/89.

AN ACT Relating to special license plates; adding new sections to chapter 46.16 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout sections 2 through 4 of this act.

          (1) "Special organization or group plate" means one of a series of distinct license plates created and designed pursuant to sections 2 through 4 of this act.

          (2) "Organization" or "group" includes:

          (a) Any state agency, including but not limited to public institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016;

          (b) Any association of persons who have made special contributions to or sacrifices for the United States, the state of Washington, or the citizens of the state of Washington, which the department determines are significant enough to merit recognition by the issuance of special organization or group plates.  In making this determination the department shall consider whether or not such associations of persons are recognized for their contributions or sacrifices in other settings or context, such as holders of purple heart medals.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) Any organization or group defined in section 1 of this act may petition the department to create, design, and issue a series of special organization or group plates which identify that organization or one of its purposes, programs, projects, or causes.  The determination as to whether or not to issue a particular series of special organization or group plates and the design of the plates shall be at the discretion of the department.  The department shall consider whether or not a sufficient number of plates from any new series may be expected to be ordered by owners of vehicles to offset the costs to the department of creating and issuing that series of special organization or group plates.

          (2) The department shall not issue any series of plates if:

          (a) The design of the special plate carries connotations offensive to good taste and decency, the plates would be misleading, or the plates would be a duplication of or very similar to plates already provided for, or issued, under this chapter; or

          (b) To issue the series of plates would be unlawful.

          (3) Special plates shall be the same basic design as regular license plates and shall consist of numbers or letters or any combination not to exceed seven positions.  However, if the applicant group specifies the need for a special design, the department shall work with the organization or group to determine a satisfactory design, subject to the requirements of this chapter.  The department shall solicit comments from the Washington state patrol upon any proposed special designs.

          (4) Every person applying for a set of special organization or group plates issued under this section shall pay all original license fees, or renewal license fees, or replacement plate fees, and excise taxes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     (1) Washington state four-year colleges and universities may also use the special plate program to raise funds for scholarships.  Persons who are applying for the special plates under this section must have paid fees to the scholarship fund of the college or university, if applicable, before submitting an application for the special plates to the department.  A person requesting the special plates shall submit an application form, provided by the department, completed and certified by the college or university that all requirements have been met, including payment of the fund-raising fees to the qualifying college or university if applicable.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The department shall establish application procedures and forms and may adopt other rules necessary to implement sections 1 through 3 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     This act shall take effect on January 1, 1990.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Sections 1 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 46.16 RCW.