READ FIRST TIME 02/10/04.   

     AN ACT Relating to a special Washington state heritage license plate series; amending RCW 46.16.313 and 46.16.316; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW; and adding new sections to chapter 46.16 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:
     "Washington state heritage license plate series" means a series of eight license plate designs displaying colorful pictorial images that are depictive of the state of Washington. The eight plates must have the following basic design themes: Orca, Steelhead trout, Lewis and Clark, Chief Seattle and the story pole, Willow Goldfinch, Western Hemlock, Washington state ferry, and Space Needle.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:
     The department shall convene a task force comprised of four legislative members, one from each caucus of the house of representatives and of the senate, a representative from the Washington state patrol, and a representative from the department. This task force shall work together to create and design the special Washington state heritage license plate series incorporating the basic themes listed in section 1 of this act. The task force may solicit suggestions from the general public for the designs of the plates, involving school children, amateur and professional artists, and others. This solicitation may take the form of a competition with appropriate recognition for the chosen designs. The task force shall ensure that all necessary rights are secured to display the images on the license plates. It is the intent of the legislature that the Washington state heritage license plate series will be a source of pride for all residents of Washington state, from the east, west, north, and south. The license plate designs must be selected considering the marketability of the plates so as to ensure that the plate designs will appeal to as much of the state's population as possible. License plates in the series may contain a slogan to describe the content or idea of each individual plate design.
     The department shall cooperate with advocacy groups, nonprofit agencies, and others interested in the identified themes to promote the sale of the Washington state heritage license plate series to their members and others interested in displaying the plates and supporting the associated accounts and trust funds.
     The department shall issue the Washington state heritage license plates. The heritage plates may be used in lieu of regular or personalized license plates for vehicles required to display one or two vehicle license plates, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW, upon terms and conditions established by the department.

Sec. 3   RCW 46.16.313 and 1997 c 291 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department may establish a fee of no more than forty dollars for each type of special license plates issued under RCW 46.16.301(1) (a), (b), or (c), as existing before amendment by section 5, chapter 291, Laws of 1997, in an amount calculated to offset the cost of production of the special license plates and the administration of this program. ((Until December 31, 1997, the fee shall not exceed thirty-five dollars, but effective with vehicle registrations due or to become due on January 1, 1998, the department may adjust the fee to no more than forty dollars.)) This fee is in addition to all other fees required to register and license the vehicle for which the plates have been requested. All such additional special license plate fees collected by the department shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the motor vehicle fund.
     (2) ((Until December 31, 1997, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application, registration, and renewal registration of a motor vehicle, the holder of a collegiate license plate shall pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds, minus the cost of plate production, shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the funds to the appropriate collegiate license plate fund as provided in RCW 28B.10.890.
     (3) Effective with vehicle registrations due or to become due on January 1, 1998,)) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application and registration of a motor vehicle, the holder of a collegiate license plate shall pay an initial fee of forty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the funds to the appropriate collegiate license plate fund as provided in RCW 28B.10.890.
     (((4) Effective with annual renewals due or to become due on January 1, 1999,)) (3) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon renewal of a motor vehicle registration, the holder of a collegiate license plate shall pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds shall be remitted to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report. The state treasurer shall credit the funds to the appropriate collegiate license plate fund as provided in RCW 28B.10.890.
     (((5))) (4) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application and registration of a motor vehicle, the holder of a special baseball stadium license plate shall pay an initial fee of forty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds, minus the cost of plate production, shall be distributed to a county for the purpose of paying the principal and interest payments on bonds issued by the county to construct a baseball stadium, as defined in RCW 82.14.0485, including reasonably necessary preconstruction costs, while the taxes are being collected under RCW 82.14.360. After this date, the state treasurer shall credit the funds to the state general fund.
     (((6) Effective with annual renewals due or to become due on January 1, 1999,)) (5) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon renewal of a motor vehicle registration, the holder of a special baseball stadium license plate shall pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The remaining proceeds shall be distributed to a county for the purpose of paying the principal and interest payments on bonds issued by the county to construct a baseball stadium, as defined in RCW 82.14.0485, including reasonably necessary preconstruction costs, while the taxes are being collected under RCW 82.14.360. After this date, the state treasurer shall credit the funds to the state general fund.
     (6) Effective with vehicle registrations due or to become due on January 1, 2005, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application and registration of a vehicle, the holder of a Washington state heritage license plate shall pay an initial fee of forty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The department shall remit the remaining proceeds to the custody of the state treasurer, who shall credit the remaining funds in accordance with section 5 of this act.
     (7) Effective with annual renewals due or to become due on January 1, 2006, in addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon renewal of a vehicle registration, the holder of a Washington state heritage license plate shall, upon application, pay a fee of thirty dollars. The department shall deduct an amount not to exceed two dollars of each fee collected under this subsection for administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The department shall remit the remaining proceeds to the custody of the state treasurer, who shall credit the remaining funds in accordance with section 5 of this act.

Sec. 4   RCW 46.16.316 and 1997 c 291 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     Except as provided in RCW 46.16.305:
     (1) When a person who has been issued a special license plate or plates under section 2 of this act or RCW 46.16.301 as it existed before amendment by section 5, chapter 291, Laws of 1997, sells, trades, or otherwise transfers or releases ownership of the vehicle upon which the special license plate or plates have been displayed, he or she shall immediately report the transfer of such plate or plates to an acquired vehicle or vehicle eligible for such plates pursuant to departmental rule, or he or she shall surrender such plates to the department immediately if such surrender is required by departmental rule. If a person applies for a transfer of the plate or plates to another eligible vehicle, a transfer fee of five dollars shall be charged in addition to all other applicable fees. Such transfer fees shall be deposited in the motor vehicle fund. Failure to surrender the plates when required is a traffic infraction.
     (2) If the special license plate or plates issued by the department become lost, defaced, damaged, or destroyed, application for a replacement special license plate or plates shall be made and fees paid as provided by law for the replacement of regular license plates.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:
     The proceeds generated from the sale of the Washington state heritage license plate series are intended to benefit various state activities and interests. The proceeds from the sale of each license plate theme within the series must be distributed in the following manner:
     (1) Orca theme heritage license plate sale proceeds must be credited to the vessel response account under RCW 90.56.335;
     (2) Steelhead trout theme heritage license plate sale proceeds must be credited to the natural science, wildlife, and environmental education partnership account under RCW 28A.300.445;
     (3) Lewis and Clark theme heritage license plate sale proceeds must be credited to the oral history, state library, and archives account under RCW 43.07.380;
     (4) Chief Seattle and story pole theme heritage license plate sale proceeds must be credited to the American Indian endowed scholarship trust fund under RCW 28B.108.050;
     (5) Willow Goldfinch theme heritage license plate sale proceeds must be credited to the habitat conservation account under RCW 79A.15.020;
     (6) Western Hemlock theme heritage license plate sale proceeds must be credited to the state parks renewal and stewardship account in RCW 79A.05.215;
     (7) Washington state ferry theme heritage license plate sale proceeds must be credited to the multimodal transportation account under RCW 47.66.070; and
     (8) Space Needle theme heritage license plate sale proceeds must be credited to the tourism development and promotion account in RCW 43.330.094.