AN ACT Relating to motorcycle public awareness campaign; amending RCW 46.20.505; adding new sections to chapter 46.20 RCW; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 46.20 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The director of licensing shall use moneys designated for the motorcycle safety education account of the highway safety fund to implement by July 1, 1989, a full-time public awareness program. The director may contract with public and private entities to implement this program.

(2) There is created a motorcycle public awareness advisory board to assist the director of licensing in the development of a public awareness program. The board shall monitor this program following implementation and report to the director of licensing as necessary with recommendations including, but not limited to, administration, application, and substance of the public awareness program.

The board shall consist of nine members appointed by the director of licensing, one of whom the director shall designate as chairperson. Three members of the board shall be members of nonprofit motorcycle organizations which actively support and promote motorcycle safety education. One member of the board shall represent motorcycle dealerships or motorcycle related shops. One member shall be a currently employed Washington state patrol motorcycle officer with at least five years experience and at least one year cumulative experience as a motorcycle officer. One member shall be a member of the public. One member shall be a current motorcycle safety instructor with no less than two years teaching experience. One member shall be the director of licensing or the director's designee. One member shall be a member of the legislative transportation committee or the committee's designee. The term of appointment shall be two years. The board shall meet at the call of the director, but not less than three times annually and not less than six times during its term of appointment, and shall receive no compensation for services but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses while engaged in business of the board in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as now existing or hereafter amended.

(3) The board shall submit a proposed public awareness program to the director and to the legislative transportation committee for review and approval on or before January 1, 1990.

(4) The purpose of the program is to increase public awareness of motorcycle safety.

Sec. 2. Section 50, chapter 145, Laws of 1967 ex. sess. as last amended by section 5, chapter 227, Laws of 1988 and RCW 46.20.505 are each amended to read as follows:

Every person applying for a special endorsement or a new category of endorsement of a driver's license authorizing such person to drive a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle shall pay a motorcycle examination fee which is not refundable. The fee for the initial or new category examination shall be seven dollars and fifty cents and the subsequent renewal examination shall be ((~~five~~)) six dollars and fifty cents. Five dollars of the initial or new category examination fee and five dollars of any subsequent fee for a renewal shall be deposited in the motorcycle safety education account of the highway safety fund. At least one dollar of the initial or new category fee and one dollar and five cents of any subsequent fee for a renewal shall be deposited in the highway safety fund to be used for the purposes of sections 1 and 3 of this act and this section and to implement the proposals of the public awareness advisory board under section 1(3) of this act. Every person under the age of eighteen applying for the required motorcycle endorsement must complete the required motorcycle safety course.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 46.20 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Any Washington state motorcycle endorsed rider who has received one motorcycle speeding or motorcycle equipment violation in a three-year period, may have that violation erased, or not entered into his or her driving record upon satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) Registering for the Washington motorcycle safety course;

(b) Paying all court costs and fines;

(d) Sending a copy of certification showing proof of completion to the department of licensing, and to the court having jurisdiction over the matter.

(2) If the student completes the course, but fails to graduate, he or she may attend a second time and must pay all costs, if any, for the course.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The sum of two hundred sixty-seven thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the highway safety fund to the motorcycle safety education account for the implementation of section 1 of this act.

(2) Any funds appropriated under this section that are not necessary for the implementation of this act shall be used for the voluntary motorcycle operator training and education program created under RCW 46.20.520.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.