SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6676

As Passed Senate, February 13, 2004

Title: An act relating to transfer of vehicle license plates and ownership.

Brief Description: Permitting transfer of license plates.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Highways & Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Murray, Haugen, Horn, Oke, Benton and Rasmussen; by request of Department of Licensing).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 2/5/04, 2/9/04 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 2/13/04, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6676 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Haugen, Jacobsen, Kastama, Murray, Oke, Poulsen and Spanel.

Staff: Kimberly Johnson (786-7346)

Background: Under current law personalized license plates may be transferred to a different vehicle. Additionally, under statute and rule, the following special license plates may be transferred to a different vehicle: medal of honor winner plates, prisoner of war plates, square dancer plates, disabled veteran plates, purple heart recipient plates, HAM and MARS plates, ride share plates, collegiate plates and baseball stadium plates. A fee of $5 is charged for transferring license plates. This fee is not collected for the transfer of medal of honor winner plates and prisoner of war plates.

General issue license plates may not be transferred to a different vehicle.

Summary of Bill: The type of license plate that may be transferred is expanded to include general issue license plates.

The fee for transferring the following types of license plates is increased to $10: square dancer plates, baseball stadium plates, purple heart recipient plates, collegiate plates, all special license plates approved by the special license plate review board, ride share plates, HAM and MARS operator plates, personalized plates, and general issue plates.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: No one.

House Amendment(s): The amendment increases the transfer fee for prisoner of war and disabled veteran license plates to $10.