FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5297

C 228 L 15

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Updating and clarifying statutory provisions within the commercial vehicle registration and fuel tax administrative systems.

Sponsors: Senators Liias, Fain, King and Hobbs; by request of Department of Licensing.

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committee on Transportation

Background: The Department of Licensing (DOL) administers and collects the majority of State transportation revenues, including administration of the International Registration Plan (IRP). IRP is an international program that allows commercial vehicles registration reciprocity among states and Canadian provinces. It also facilitates uniformity of laws regarding the registration of interstate commercial vehicles and provides each jurisdiction with a prorated share of fees based on distance traveled and weight. In order for states to be eligible to receive certain federal transportation funds they must participate in IRP.

In 2013 Substitute House Bill 1883 passed, which was requested by DOL to consolidate and streamline the law related to fuel tax administration and collection. Among the various changes made, the Aeronautics Account was inadvertently repealed. This law takes effect July 1, 2015.

Summary: Terms and definitions are updated and obsolete language is removed to conform to IRP standards, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration guidelines, and fuel tax statues. Record retention requirements regarding the owner of a vehicle that is registered in IPR are changed from four years to three years. The penalty for failing to comply or to produce documents that are requested by DOL are defined as assessments of 20 percent of the apportionable fees found to be due for a first offense and up to 100 percent for a third offense.

The Aeronautics Account is reinstated.

Votes on Final Passage: