Brief Description: Issuing special Washington heritage license plates.

Sponsors: Representative G. Simpson.

Hearing Date: 2/9/04

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 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 2004.

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.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 6, 2004.

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