FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1568

C 25 L 17

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Creating Fred Hutch special license plates.

Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Pettigrew, Macri, Harris, Bergquist and Farrell).

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

The Department of Licensing (DOL) issues special vehicle license plates that may be used in lieu of standard plates. A governmental or nonprofit sponsoring organization seeking to sponsor a special plate either submits an application to the DOL or requests legislation to create the special plate. The organization seeking to sponsor the special plate is required to reimburse the DOL for the costs of establishing the new special plate.

For special license plates that are authorized in statute, a sponsoring organization must, within 30 days of enactment, submit prepayment of all start-up costs to the DOL. If the sponsoring organization is not able to meet the prepayment requirement, revenues generated from the sale of the special license plate are first used to pay off any costs associated with establishing the new plate. The sponsoring organization must provide a proposed license plate design to the DOL. Additionally, the sponsoring organization must submit an annual financial report to the DOL detailing actual revenues generated from the sale of the special license plate. The reports are presented to, reviewed by, and approved by the Joint Transportation Committee.

The DOL collects special license plate fees and, for administrative expenses, deducts an amount not to exceed $12 for new plate issuance and $2 for renewal. After these expenses are paid, the State Treasurer deposits the proceeds into the Motor Vehicle Account until the DOL determines the start-up costs for a special license plate are paid. Once start-up costs for a special license plate are paid, the State Treasurer credits the remaining special license plate fee amounts into an account specified for the sponsoring organization.

Summary:

The Fred Hutch special license plate is created with the purpose of supporting the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application for a vehicle registration, a fee of $40 will be charged for initial issuance of a Fred Hutch special license plate, and a $30 fee will be charged for renewal of the plate.

After the costs associated with establishing the special license plate are recovered, proceeds from the sale of the special license plates will be provided to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to support cancer research.

Votes on Final Passage: