Z-1420.4                   _______________________________________________

                                                     SENATE BILL 6309

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1994 Regular Session

By Senators Vognild and Sellar; by request of Washington State Patrol

Read first time 01/19/94.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Modifying state patrol funding.

          AN ACT Relating to state patrol funding; amending RCW 46.16.060, 46.16.070, 46.68.030, 46.68.035, and 82.44.020; reenacting and amending RCW 82.44.110; adding a new section to chapter 82.44 RCW; providing an effective date; and providing for submission of this act to a vote of the people.

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

        Sec. 1.  RCW 46.16.060 and 1992 c 216 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

          (((1))) Except for vehicles already so taxed in RCW 46.16.070 and 46.16.085 or as otherwise specifically provided by law for the licensing of vehicles, there shall be paid and collected annually for each registration year or fractional part thereof and upon each vehicle, except vehicles registered to nonresident military personnel, enrolled members of an Indian tribe located within this state, or as ride sharing vehicles, a license fee of seven dollars and forty cents.  However, if the vehicle was previously licensed in this state and has not been registered in another jurisdiction in the intervening period, the renewal license fee is three dollars and forty cents.  There shall be paid and collected annually for each registration year or fractional part thereof and upon each vehicle registered to nonresident military personnel, enrolled members of an Indian tribe located within this state, or as ride sharing vehicles a license fee of ((twenty-three dollars, but effective with initial motor vehicle registrations that expire in January, 1989, and thereafter, the license fee shall be twenty-seven)) twenty-seven dollars and seventy-five cents; however, if the vehicle was previously licensed in this state and has not been registered in another jurisdiction in the intervening period, the renewal license fee shall be ((nineteen dollars, but effective with vehicle license renewals that expire in January, 1989, and thereafter, the renewal license fee shall be)) twenty-three dollars and seventy-five cents.  On all new and renewal license fees, an additional fifty cents shall be collected and remitted to the department for deposit into the department of licensing services account of the motor vehicle fund.  The proceeds of such fees shall be distributed in accordance with RCW 46.68.030.  The fee for licensing each house-moving dolly which is used exclusively for moving buildings or homes on the highway under special permit as provided for in chapter 46.44 RCW shall be ((twenty-five dollars, but effective with licenses that expire in January, 1989, and thereafter, the fee shall be twenty-nine)) nine dollars and ((seventy-five)) forty cents, and no other fee shall be charged for the load carried thereon.

          (((2) The department of licensing, county auditors, and other authorized agents shall collect for any registration year any increase in the fees authorized by this section for the months of that registration year in which any such increase is effective in the same manner and at the same time as such fees for that registration year would otherwise be collected as provided by law.))

        Sec. 2.  RCW 46.16.070 and 1993 sp.s. c 23 s 60 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) In lieu of all other vehicle licensing fees, unless specifically exempt, and in addition to the excise tax prescribed in chapter 82.44 RCW and the mileage fees prescribed for buses and stages in RCW 46.16.125, there shall be paid and collected annually for each motor truck, truck tractor, road tractor, tractor, bus, auto stage, or for hire vehicle with seating capacity of more than six, based upon the declared combined gross weight or declared gross weight thereof pursuant to the provisions of chapter 46.44 RCW, the following licensing fees by such gross weight:

                                       4,000 lbs. .................................................................................................................... $    ((37.00)) 44.00

                                        6,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................... $    ((44.00)) 51.00

                                        8,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................... $    ((55.00)) 62.00

                                       10,000 lbs. .................................................................................................................. $    ((62.00)) 69.00

                                       12,000 lbs. .................................................................................................................. $    ((72.00)) 79.00

                                       14,000 lbs. .................................................................................................................. $    ((82.00)) 89.00

                                       16,000 lbs. .................................................................................................................. $    ((92.00)) 99.00

                                       18,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((137.00)) 144.00

                                       20,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((152.00)) 159.00

                                       22,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((164.00)) 171.00

                                       24,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((177.00)) 184.00

                                       26,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((187.00)) 194.00

                                       28,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((220.00)) 227.00

                                       30,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((253.00)) 260.00

                                       32,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((304.00)) 311.00

                                       34,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((323.00)) 330.00

                                       36,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((350.00)) 357.00

                                       38,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((384.00)) 391.00

                                       40,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((439.00)) 446.00

                                       42,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((546.00)) 553.00

                                       44,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((556.00)) 563.00

                                       46,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((591.00)) 598.00

                                       48,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((612.00)) 619.00

                                       50,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((656.00)) 663.00

                                       52,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((685.00)) 692.00

                                       54,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((732.00)) 739.00

                                       56,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((767.00)) 774.00

                                       58,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((794.00)) 801.00

                                       60,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((840.00)) 847.00

                                       62,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((894.00)) 901.00

                                       64,000 lbs. ................................................................................................................ $   ((912.00)) 919.00

                                       66,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((1,005.00)) 1,012.00

                                       68,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((1,044.00)) 1,051.00

                                       70,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((1,117.00)) 1,124.00

                                       72,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((1,188.00)) 1,195.00

                                       74,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((1,283.00)) 1,290.00

                                       76,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((1,379.00)) 1,386.00

                                       78,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((1,497.00)) 1,504.00

                                       80,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((1,608.00)) 1,615.00

                                       82,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((1,713.00)) 1,720.00

                                       84,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((1,818.00)) 1,825.00

                                       86,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((1,923.00)) 1,930.00

                                       88,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((2,028.00)) 2,035.00

                                       90,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((2,133.00)) 2,140.00

                                       92,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((2,238.00)) 2,245.00

                                       94,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((2,343.00)) 2,350.00

                                       96,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((2,448.00)) 2,455.00

                                       98,000 lbs. ............................................................................................................ $ ((2,553.00)) 2,560.00

                                       100,000 lbs. .......................................................................................................... $ ((2,658.00)) 2,665.00

                                       102,000 lbs. .......................................................................................................... $ ((2,763.00)) 2,770.00

                                       104,000 lbs. .......................................................................................................... $ ((2,868.00)) 2,875.00

                                       105,500 lbs. .......................................................................................................... $ ((2,973.00)) 2,980.00

The fees in the above table are effective beginning with vehicle license renewals that expire in January 1996.  Every motor truck, truck tractor, and tractor exceeding 6,000 pounds empty scale weight registered under chapter 46.16, 46.87, or 46.88 RCW shall be licensed for not less than one hundred fifty percent of its empty weight unless the amount would be in excess of the legal limits prescribed for such a vehicle in RCW 46.44.041 or 46.44.042, in which event the vehicle shall be licensed for the maximum weight authorized for such a vehicle.

          The following provisions apply when increasing gross or combined gross weight for a vehicle licensed under this section:

          (a) The new license fee will be one-twelfth of the fee listed above for the new gross weight, multiplied by the number of months remaining in the period for which licensing fees have been paid, including the month in which the new gross weight is effective.

          (b) Upon surrender of the current certificate of registration or cab card, the new licensing fees due shall be reduced by the amount of the licensing fees previously paid for the same period for which new fees are being charged.

          (2) The proceeds from the fees collected under subsection (1) of this section shall be distributed in accordance with RCW 46.68.035.

        Sec. 3.  RCW 46.68.030 and 1990 c 42 s 109 are each amended to read as follows:

          Except for proceeds from fees for vehicle licensing for vehicles paying such fees under RCW 46.16.070 and 46.16.085, and as otherwise provided for in chapter 46.16 RCW, all fees received by the director for vehicle licenses under the provisions of chapter 46.16 RCW shall be forwarded to the state treasurer, accompanied by a proper identifying detailed report, and be deposited to the credit of the motor vehicle fund, except that the proceeds from the vehicle license fee and renewal license fee shall be deposited by the state treasurer as ((hereinafter)) provided in this section.  ((After July 1, 1981,)) That portion of each vehicle license fee in excess of $7.40 and that portion of each renewal license fee in excess of $3.40 shall be deposited in the state patrol highway account in the motor vehicle fund, hereby created.  Vehicle license fees, renewal license fees, motor vehicle excise taxes, and all other funds in the state patrol highway account shall be for the sole use of the Washington state patrol for highway activities of the Washington state patrol, subject to proper appropriations ((and reappropriations therefor, for any fiscal biennium after June 30, 1981, and)).  Twenty-seven and three-tenths percent of the proceeds from $7.40 of each vehicle license fee and $3.40 of each renewal license fee shall be deposited each biennium in the Puget Sound ferry operations account.  Any remaining amounts of vehicle license fees and renewal license fees that are not deposited in the Puget Sound ferry operations account shall be deposited in the motor vehicle fund.

        Sec. 4.  RCW 46.68.035 and 1993 c 102 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

          All proceeds from combined vehicle licensing fees received by the director for vehicles licensed under RCW 46.16.070 and 46.16.085 shall be forwarded to the state treasurer to be distributed into accounts according to the following method:

          (1) The sum of two dollars for each vehicle shall be deposited into the highway safety fund, except that for each vehicle registered by a county auditor or agent to a county auditor pursuant to RCW 46.01.140, the sum of two dollars shall be credited to the current county expense fund.

          (2) The remainder shall be distributed as follows:

          (a) ((23.677)) 29.587 percent shall be deposited into the state patrol highway account of the motor vehicle fund;

          (b) ((1.521)) 1.403 percent shall be deposited into the Puget Sound ferry operations account of the motor vehicle fund; and

          (c) The remaining proceeds shall be deposited into the motor vehicle fund.

        Sec. 5.  RCW 82.44.020 and 1993 sp.s. c 23 s 61 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) An excise tax is imposed for the privilege of using in the state any motor vehicle, except those operated under reciprocal agreements, the provisions of RCW 46.16.160 ((as now or hereafter amended)), or dealer's licenses.  The annual amount of such excise tax shall be two percent of the value of such vehicle.

          (2) An additional excise tax is imposed, in addition to any other tax imposed by this section, for the privilege of using in the state any such motor vehicle, and the annual amount of such additional excise shall be two-tenths of one percent of the value of such vehicle.

          (3) ((Effective with October 1992 motor vehicle registration expirations,)) A clean air excise tax is imposed in addition to any other tax imposed by this section for the privilege of using in the state any motor vehicle ((as defined in RCW 82.44.010)), except ((that)) for farm vehicles as defined in RCW 46.04.181 ((shall not be subject to the tax imposed by this subsection)).  The annual amount of the additional excise tax shall be two dollars ((and twenty-five cents.  Effective with July 1994 motor vehicle registration expirations, the annual amount of additional excise tax shall be two dollars)).

          (4) An additional excise tax is imposed on truck-type power units, except power units used exclusively for hauling logs, that are used in combination with a trailer to transport loads in excess of forty thousand pounds combined gross weight.  The annual amount of such additional excise tax shall be fifty-eight one-hundredths of one percent of the value of the vehicle.

          The department shall distribute the additional tax collected under this subsection as follows:

          (a) For each trailing unit subject to subsection (((5))) (6) of this section, an amount equal to the clean air excise tax prescribed in subsection (3) of this section shall be distributed in the manner prescribed in RCW 82.44.110(3);

          (b) Of the remainder of the additional excise tax collected under this subsection, ten percent shall be distributed in the manner prescribed in RCW 82.44.110(2) and ninety percent shall be distributed in the manner prescribed in RCW 82.44.110(1).  ((This tax shall not apply to power units used exclusively for hauling logs.))

          (5) An additional excise tax is imposed, effective beginning with motor vehicle registrations purchased to expire in January 1996 for vehicles licensed under RCW 46.16.060, in addition to any other tax imposed by this section, for the privilege of using in the state any such motor vehicle, and the amount of such additional excise tax shall be thirty-seven one-hundredths of one percent of the value of the motor vehicle.

(6) The excise taxes imposed by subsections (1) through (3) of this section shall not apply to trailing units which are used in combination with a power unit subject to the additional excise tax imposed by subsection (4) of this section.  This subsection shall not apply to trailing units used for hauling logs. 

          (((6))) (7) In no case shall the total tax be less than two dollars except for proportionally registered vehicles.

          (((7))) (8) Washington residents, as defined in RCW 46.16.028, who license motor vehicles in another state or foreign country and avoid Washington motor vehicle excise taxes are liable for such unpaid excise taxes.  The department of revenue may assess and collect the unpaid excise taxes under chapter 82.32 RCW, including the penalties and interest provided therein.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.  A new section is added to chapter 82.44 RCW to read as follows:

          The state patrol account is created in the transportation fund.  All receipts from RCW 82.44.020(5) shall be deposited into the state patrol account.  Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.  Expenditures from the account may be used only for state patrol purposes.

        Sec. 7.  RCW 82.44.110 and 1993 sp.s. c 21 s 7 and 1993 c 492 s 253 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

          The county auditor shall regularly, when remitting license fee receipts, pay over and account to the director of licensing for the excise taxes collected under the provisions of this chapter.  The director shall forthwith transmit the excise taxes to the state treasurer.

          (1) The state treasurer shall deposit the excise taxes collected under RCW 82.44.020(1) as follows:

          (a) 1.60 percent into the motor vehicle fund to defray administrative and other expenses incurred by the department in the collection of the excise tax.

          (b) 8.15 percent into the Puget Sound capital construction account in the motor vehicle fund.

          (c) 4.07 percent into the Puget Sound ferry operations account in the motor vehicle fund.

          (d) 5.88 percent into the general fund to be distributed under RCW 82.44.155.

          (e) 4.75 percent into the municipal sales and use tax equalization account in the general fund created in RCW 82.14.210.

          (f) 1.60 percent into the county sales and use tax equalization account in the general fund created in RCW 82.14.200.

          (g) 62.6440 percent into the general fund through June 30, 1995, and 57.6440 percent into the general fund beginning July 1, 1995.

          (h) 5 percent into the transportation fund created in RCW 82.44.180 beginning July 1, 1995.

          (i) 5.9686 percent into the county criminal justice assistance account created in RCW 82.14.310.

          (j) 1.1937 percent into the municipal criminal justice assistance account for distribution under RCW 82.14.320.

          (k) 1.1937 percent into the municipal criminal justice assistance account for distribution under RCW 82.14.330.

          (l) 2.95 percent into the general fund to be distributed by the state treasurer to county health departments to be used exclusively for public health.  The state treasurer shall distribute these funds proportionately among the counties based on population as determined by the most recent United States census.

          Notwithstanding (i) through (k) of this subsection, no more than sixty million dollars shall be deposited into the accounts specified in (i) through (k) of this subsection for the period January 1, 1994, through June 30, 1995.  For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the amounts deposited into the accounts specified in (i) through (k) of this subsection shall not increase by more than the amounts deposited into those accounts in the previous fiscal year increased by the implicit price deflator for the previous fiscal year.  Any revenues in excess of this amount shall be deposited into the general fund.

          (2) The state treasurer shall deposit the excise taxes collected under RCW 82.44.020(2) into the transportation fund.

          (3) The state treasurer shall deposit the excise tax imposed by RCW 82.44.020(3) into the air pollution control account created by RCW 70.94.015.

(4) The state treasurer shall deposit the excise tax collected under RCW 82.44.020(5) into the state patrol account created by section 6 of this act, except the tax so paid by residents of those counties composed entirely of islands and that have neither a fixed physical connection with the mainland nor any state highways on any of the islands of which they are composed, shall be paid into the motor vehicle fund of the state of Washington and shall monthly, as they accrue, be paid to the county treasurer of each such a county to be disbursed as provided in RCW 46.68.080.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8.  This act takes effect January 1, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9.  This act shall be submitted to the people for their adoption and ratification, or rejection, at the next succeeding general election to be held in this state, in accordance with Article II, section 1 of the state Constitution, as amended, and the laws adopted to facilitate the operation thereof.

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