HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1583
As Passed House:
March 9, 2001
Title: An act relating to the waiver of motorcycle endorsement examination after satisfactory completion of motorcycle operator training.
Brief Description: Waiving the motorcycle exam for trained operators.
Sponsors: By Representatives Hatfield, Ericksen, Cooper, Delvin and Kenney; by request of Department of Licensing.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 2/13/01, 2/15/01 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/9/01, 94-0.
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Brief Summary of Bill
$Authorizes the Department of Licensing to waive all or part of the motorcycle endorsement exam for those individuals who have completed the voluntary motorcycle operator training and education program.
$Maintains the collection of a $2 fee, formerly collected for the exam.
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 26 members: Representatives Fisher, Democratic Co‑Chair; Mitchell, Republican Co‑Chair; Cooper, Democratic Vice Chair; Hankins, Republican Vice Chair; Lovick, Democratic Vice Chair; Ahern, Anderson, Armstrong, Edmonds, Haigh, Hatfield, Hurst, Jarrett, Marine, Mielke, Morell, Murray, Ogden, Reardon, Rockefeller, Romero, Schindler, Simpson, Sump, Wood and Woods.
Staff: Reema Griffith (786‑7301).
Background:
Under current law, individuals interested in driving a motorcycle on public roadways must possess a valid driver=s license and a motorcycle endorsement. In order to acquire a motorcycle endorsement, individuals must take an exam and pay the $2 exam fee. The exam consists of a written exam as well as a skills exam which emphasizes maneuvers necessary for on-street operation. Revenue generated by the $2 exam fee is deposited into the Motorcycle Safety Education Account, the funds of which are dedicated to supporting the motorcycle operator training and education program.
The training and education program is voluntary and individuals who sign up for the classes receive approximately 14 hours of training which includes both classroom and on-street instruction. Upon completion of the training, the students are given both a written and a skills exam which is very similar to the test administered by the department. Once this training and testing is successfully completed, individuals are still required under current law to also take the department=s exam in order to be issued a motorcycle endorsement. However, because the department reviews the curriculum at the training schools, Department of Licensing has historically waived the skills portion of the state exam for those individuals who have successfully completed the volunteer training.
Summary of Bill:
The Department of Licensing is authorized to waive all or part of the motorcycle endorsement exam for those individuals who have completed the voluntary motorcycle operator training and education program.
Current law requires a $2 exam fee be collected from individuals applying for the special endorsement. Although provisions in the bill authorize the department to potentially waive the entire exam, the $2 fee is retained as a generic application fee for the endorsement.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This is currently being done and works well. It also provides an incentive for new riders to take the class
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Derek Goudriaan, Department of Licensing.