Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Transportation Committee |
HB 2674
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Concerning the processing of quick titles by subagents.
Sponsors: Representatives Warnick and Sawyer.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/3/14
Staff: Jerry Long (786-7306).
Background:
Substitute House Bill 1046 was enacted in in 2011 and implemented a process to print a quick title, which is a certificate of ownership printed at the time of application. Presently there are 37 locations in Washington where quick titles are produced, with 22 county auditor offices and 15 subagent offices providing the quick title service. During the period of July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013, there were 21,986 vehicle and 476 vessel quick titles produced.
A $50 fee is charged by the participating county auditor or other agent; $25 is retained by the county treasurer in the same manner as other fees collected by the county auditor, and the remaining $25 is deposited into the Motor Vehicle Fund for a vehicle and the State General Fund for a vessel. If the fee is paid directly to the Department of Licensing (DOL), the entire fee of $50 must be deposited into the Motor Vehicle Fund for a vehicle and into the State General Fund for a vessel.
The application for a quick title may not be used to obtain the first title issued to a vehicle previously designated as a salvage vehicle.
The application for a quick title must be submitted by the owner or owner's representative to the DOL, participating county auditor, or other agent appointed by the Director of the DOL on a form furnished or approved by the DOL.
Subagents are allowed to perform quick title transactions providing that:
the county auditor or agent has provided quick title services in the county in which the subagent is located for at least six months;
the county auditor or other agent has selected the subagent to perform quick title services; and
the DOL has instituted a process in which blank certificates of title can be inventoried.
All applications for a quick title must meet the requirements established by the DOL.
The DOL has instituted security standards and a process by which blank certificates of title can be inventoried.
Summary of Bill:
The bill allows a subagent to process a quick title in accordance with rules that are adopted by the DOL, and removes the following requirements, currently in statute, before a subagent may process a quick title:
The county auditor of the county in which the subagent is located has processed quick titles for a minimum of six months.
The county auditor must approve a request from a subagent in its county to process quick titles.
The bill removes the requirement currently in statute for the DOL to institute a process in which blank certificates of title can be inventoried, since the DOL has a process in place.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.