READ FIRST TIME 02/14/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to volunteer firefighter special license plates; amending RCW 46.18.200, 46.17.220, and 46.68.420; reenacting and amending RCW 46.18.060; and providing an effective date.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.18.200 and 2010 c 161 s 611 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((The legislature recognizes that the special license plate review board established in RCW 46.16.705 reviews and approves applications for special license plate series.
     (2))) Special license plate series reviewed and approved by the ((special license plate review board)) department:
     (a) May be issued in lieu of standard issue or personalized license plates for vehicles required to display one and two license plates unless otherwise specified;
     (b) Must be issued under terms and conditions established by the department;
     (c) Must not be issued for vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW; and
     (d) Must display a symbol or artwork approved by the ((special license plate review board)) department.
     (((3) The special license plate review board approves, and)) (2) The department approves and shall issue((,)) the following special license plates:

Sec. 2   RCW 46.17.220 and 2010 c 161 s 521 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application for a vehicle registration in chapter ((46.16)) 46.16A RCW, the holder of a special license plate shall pay the appropriate special license plate fee as listed in this section.

Sec. 3   RCW 46.68.420 and 2010 c 161 s 809 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall:
     (a) Collect special license plate fees established under RCW 46.17.220 ((that were approved by the special license plate review board under RCW 46.18.200));
     (b) Deduct an amount not to exceed twelve dollars for initial issue and two dollars for renewal issue for administration and collection expenses incurred by it; and
     (c) Remit the remaining proceeds to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report.
     (2) The state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the motor vehicle account until the department determines that the state has been reimbursed for the cost of implementing the special license plate. Upon determination by the department that the state has been reimbursed, the state treasurer shall credit the remaining special license plate fee amounts for each special license plate to the following appropriate account as created in this section in the custody of the state treasurer:

Sec. 4   RCW 46.18.060 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 7 s 94 and 2010 c 161 s 604 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((The creation of the board does not in any way preclude the authority of the legislature to independently propose and enact special license plate legislation.
     (2))) The ((board)) department must review and either approve or reject special license plate applications submitted by sponsoring organizations.
     (((3))) (2) Duties of the ((board)) department include but are not limited to the following:
     (a) Review and approve the annual financial reports submitted by sponsoring organizations with active special license plate series and present those annual financial reports to the ((senate and house transportation committees)) joint transportation committee;
     (b) Report annually to the ((senate and house of representatives transportation committees)) joint transportation committee on the special license plate applications that were considered by the ((board)) department;
     (c) Issue approval and rejection notification letters to sponsoring organizations, ((the department,)) the ((chairs of the senate and house of representatives transportation committees)) joint transportation committee, and the legislative sponsors identified in each application. The letters must be issued within seven days of making a determination on the status of an application; and
     (d) Review annually the number of plates sold for each special license plate series created after January 1, 2003. The ((board)) department may submit a recommendation to discontinue a special plate series to the ((chairs of the senate and house of representatives transportation committees; and
     (e) Provide policy guidance and directions to the department concerning the adoption of rules necessary to limit the number of special license plates for which an organization or a governmental entity may apply)) joint transportation committee.
     (((4))) (3) Except as provided in RCW 46.18.245, in order to assess the effects and impact of the proliferation of special license plates, the legislature declares a temporary moratorium on the issuance of any additional plates until July 1, 2011. During this period of time, ((the special license plate review board created in RCW 46.16.705 and)) the department ((are)) is prohibited from accepting, reviewing, processing, or approving any applications. Additionally, a special license plate may not be enacted by the legislature during the moratorium, unless the proposed license plate has been approved by the former special license plate review board before February 15, 2005.
     (4) The volunteer firefighters license plates created under RCW 46.18.200 are exempt from the requirements of subsection (3) of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   This act takes effect January 1, 2012.