Brief Description: Establishing the Washington's Wildlife license plate collection.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Swecker, Jacobsen, Oke, Doumit, Fraser, Rockefeller, Kohl-Welles and Rasmussen).

Hearing Date: 3/21/05

Staff: Teresa Berntsen (786-7301).

Background:

The Legislature created the Special License Plate Review Board (Board) in the 2003 session to review special vehicle license plate applications from governmental or nonprofit organizations in Washington. The Board must verify the organization and proposed plate meet criteria set by state law, and then forwards the approved application to the Legislature.

On December 10, 2004, the board formally approved the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Washington's Wildlife license plate collection application.

Summary of Bill:

The Department of Licensing must issue a special license plate collection for vehicles displaying a symbol or artwork recognizing Washington's wildlife to include bear, deer, and elk.

An applicant for a Washington's Wildlife license plate must pay an initial fee of $40 and a renewal fee each year thereafter of $30. The initial revenue generated from the plate sales must be deposited into the motor vehicle account until the state has been reimbursed for the implementation costs. Upon reimbursement, the revenue must be deposited into the state wildlife account and may only be used for the Department of Fish and Wildlife's game species management activities.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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