HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6667

                      As Passed House:

                      February 29, 2000

Title:  An act relating to the replacement of license plates for certain commercial vehicles.

Brief Description:  Exempting certain commercial vehicles from replacing license plates.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen, Swecker, Gardner, Morton, Sellar, Sheahan, Benton and Winsley.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Transportation:  2/21/00, 2/22/00 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/29/00, 97-0.

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Commercial vehicles over 26,000 pounds are exempt from the license plate replacement provisions.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 28 members:  Representatives Fisher, Democratic Co-Chair; Mitchell, Republican Co-Chair; Cooper, Democratic 1st Vice Chair; Edwards, Democratic 2nd Vice Chair; Ericksen, Republican Vice Chair; Hankins, Republican Vice Chair; Buck; G. Chandler; DeBolt; Fortunato; Haigh; Hatfield; Hurst; Lovick; McDonald; Mielke; Morris; Murray; Ogden; Pflug; Radcliff; Romero; Schindler; Schual-Berke; Scott; Skinner; Wood and Woods.

Staff:  Mary McLaughlin (786-7309).

Background:

In 1997, the Legislature passed a measure that (1) requires all license plates to be issued on a standard background designated by the Department of Licensing beginning January 1, 2001, and (2) that the department provide for periodic replacement of the license plates to ensure maximum legibility and reflectivity.  Vehicles over 26,000 pounds, collector plates issued prior to January 1, 1987, and Congressional Medal of Honor plates were exempt.

Because of the placement of the exemption in the law, it is the opinion of the department that the exemption only applies to the standard background provisions, and not to periodic replacement.

Summary of Bill:

Commercial vehicles over 26,000 pounds are exempt from the Department of Licensing's  periodic vehicle license plate replacement provisions.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The original intent was that commercial trucks were to be exempt from the license plate replacement provisions, as well as the standard background.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  John Woodring, Washington Trucking Association.