SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5539

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Highways & Transportation, March 4, 2003

Title: An act relating to reports by vehicle wreckers and scrap processors.

Brief Description: Allowing electronic filing of wrecker reports.

Sponsors: Senators Esser, Kastama and Winsley; by request of Department of Licensing.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 2/19/03, 3/4/03 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Benton, Vice Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Finkbeiner, Haugen, Jacobsen; Kastama, Mulliken, Oke, Prentice and Spanel.

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: Vehicle wreckers are businesses that dismantle salvage vehicles for the purpose of selling secondhand parts. The Department of Licensing (DOL) licenses and regulates vehicle wreckers. Vehicle wreckers must provide DOL with a monthly report of all acquired vehicles. This report must be signed by the vehicle wrecker and notarized. The majority of all wrecker reports are mailed to DOL.

Scrap processors are businesses licensed and regulated by DOL that process junk vehicles and recycle salvage. Scrap processors must forward certificates of title, releases of interest from an owner, and affidavits of sale from landowners, together with a monthly report of all vehicles acquired, other than those acquired from licensed automobile wreckers, to DOL. The majority of all scrap processor documents and reports are mailed to DOL.

Summary of Bill: Vehicle wreckers and scrap processors are authorized to submit required monthly reports to DOL electronically. If submitting a report electronically, a vehicle wrecker and scrap processor must maintain in their records the printed confirmation receipt from DOL and the original ownership documents. Reports filed electronically are exempt from the notarization and signature requirements.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: The Department of Licensing and the State Patrol have identified a process that will streamline the reporting process, while still maintaining the integrity of the auditing process of these businesses.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Deborah McCurley, Department of Licensing; Captain Fred Fakkema, Washington State Patrol.