Brief Description: Authorizing the "Washington's National Park Fund" special license plate.

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

Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Transportation

Background: The Special License Plate Review Board was created in the 2003 session and charged with reviewing special license plate applications from groups requesting the creation of a special license plate series. Upon approval, the board forwards the application to the Legislature.

On December 10, 2004, the board formally approved the "Washington's National Park Fund" license plate application.

Summary: The Department of Licensing (DOL) must issue a special license plate for vehicles displaying a symbol or artwork recognizing the efforts of Washington's national parks for future generations in Washington State.

An applicant for a "Washington's National Park Fund" 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 Washington National Park Fund established under this bill.

The DOL must enter into a contract with a qualified nonprofit organization requiring that the organization use the revenue generated by the license plate sales to build awareness of Washington's national parks and to support priority park programs and projects in Washington's national parks.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      48   0
House      85   9

Effective: July 24, 2005