HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2167

As Reported by House Committee On:

Transportation

Title: An act relating to a special Washington state heritage license plate series.

Brief Description: Issuing special Washington heritage license plates.

Sponsors: Representative G. Simpson.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 2/9/04 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 18 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Rockefeller, Vice Chair; G. Simpson, Vice Chair; Jarrett, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell, Clibborn, Cooper, Dickerson, Flannigan, Hankins, Hatfield, Hudgins, Lovick, Morris, Romero, Sullivan, Wallace and Wood.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Ericksen, Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Kristiansen, Mielke, Nixon, Rodne, Shabro and Woods.

Staff: Page Scott (786-7301).

Background:

The Department of Licensing (DOL) offers several special license plate series denoting such things as the age or type of the vehicle, special activities or interests, state universities, and military service or sacrifice.

The appearance of the background of a vehicle license plate may vary in color and design but must be legible and clearly identifiable as a Washington state license plate.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The Washington State Heritage (Heritage) license plate series is created. This series of five different license plates will display images that depict various natural and man-made features of Washington. The plate designs will be created by a task force comprised of four legislative members, one representative from the Washington State Patrol, and one representative from the DOL.

The Heritage license plate series must be available from the DOL beginning with vehicle registrations due or to become due in January 2005.

An applicant for a Heritage license plate must pay an initial fee of $40 and a renewal fee each year thereafter of $30. The DOL may deduct up to $12 of the initial fee and up to $2 of the renewal fee for administration and collection expenses incurred by the DOL. The remaining revenue generated from the Heritage plate sales must be deposited into the multimodal transportation account.

A maximum fee of $40 is established for special license plates denoting the age or type of vehicle; special activities or interests; or status, contribution or sacrifices made for the United States or Washington.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill changes the dates these plates will begin to be available from 2004 to 2005 and removes a section (section 4) that is already reflected in current law.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 6, 2004.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This plate series will celebrate Washington's unique and distinct features and provide a source for additional state funding.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative G. Simpson, prime sponsor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.