BILL REQ. #:  H-4798.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/10/04.   

     AN ACT Relating to funding driver's education for low-income students; amending RCW 28A.220.040; adding a new section to chapter 46.16 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) At the time the vehicle license plate fee imposed under RCW 46.16.237 is charged, the registered owner shall pay and the department shall collect an additional fee of one dollar for each license plate issued.
     (2) The department shall transmit the fee imposed in this section to the state treasurer together with a detailed report for deposit in the motor vehicle fund. The state treasurer shall transfer the fees imposed in this section at least once each quarter to the public safety and education account, and the amount so deposited may be used only for reducing the cost of traffic safety education courses under chapter 28A.220 RCW for students qualified to receive school lunches on a reduced-cost or free basis.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.220.040 and 2000 c 115 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Each school district shall be reimbursed from funds appropriated for traffic safety education.
     (a) The state superintendent shall determine the per-pupil reimbursement amount for the traffic safety education course to be funded by the state. Each school district offering an approved standard traffic safety education course shall be reimbursed or granted an amount up to the level established by the superintendent of public instruction as may be appropriated. Each school district that does not offer an approved standard traffic safety education course may offer scholarships for students qualified to receive school lunches on a reduced-cost or free basis who enroll in a traffic safety education course at any drivers' school licensed under chapter 46.82 RCW.
     (b) The state superintendent may provide per-pupil reimbursements to school districts only where all the traffic educators have satisfied the continuing education requirement of RCW 28A.220.030(4).
     (2) The board of directors of any school district or combination of school districts may establish a traffic safety education fee, which fee when imposed shall be required to be paid by any duly enrolled student in any such school district prior to or while enrolled in a traffic safety education course. In accordance with funding received under section 1 of this act, the board shall set a reduced fee for students qualified to receive school lunches on a reduced-cost or free basis. Traffic safety education fees collected by a school district shall be deposited with the county treasurer to the credit of such school district, to be used to pay costs of the traffic safety education course.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   Section 1 of this act takes effect with registrations that are due or become due November 1, 2004, or later.