AN ACT Relating to the association of Washington generals; amending RCW 43.15.030 and 46.68.430; reenacting and amending RCW 46.68.420, 46.17.220, and 46.18.200; adding a new section to chapter 43.15 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW; repealing RCW 46.04.062 and 46.18.215; and providing an effective date.

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

Sec. 1.  RCW 43.15.030 and 2005 c 69 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The association of Washington generals is organized as a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan((,)) corporation in accordance with chapter 24.03 RCW and this section.

(2) The purpose of the association of Washington generals is to:

(a) Provide the state a means of extending formal recognition for an individual's outstanding services to the state; ((and))

(b) Bring together those individuals to serve the state as ambassadors of trade, tourism, and international goodwill; and

(c) Expand educational, sports, and/or employment opportunities for youth, veterans, and people with disabilities in Washington state.

(3) The association of Washington generals may conduct activities in support of their mission, including but not limited to:

(a) Establishing selection criteria for selecting Washington generals;

(b) ((Operating a statewide essay competition;

(c))) Training Washington generals as ambassadors of the state of Washington, nationally and internationally; and

(((d))) (c) Promoting Washington generals as ambassadors of the state of Washington.

(4) The association of Washington generals is governed by a board of directors. The board is composed of the governor, lieutenant governor, and the secretary of state, who serve as ex officio, nonvoting members, and other officers and members as the association of Washington generals designates.

(5) The board shall:

(a) Review nominations for and be responsible for the selection of Washington generals; ((and))

(b) Establish the title of honorary Washington general to honor worthy individuals from outside the state of Washington; and

(c) Adopt bylaws and establish governance and transparency policies.

(((5))) (6) The lieutenant governor's office may provide technical and financial assistance for the association of Washington generals, where the work of the association aligns with the mission of the office. Assistance from the lieutenant governor's office may include, but is not limited to:

(c) The compilation of a yearly financial report, which shall be made available to the legislature no later than January 15th of each year, detailing all revenues and expenditures associated with the Washington world fellows program and the sports mentoring program. Any expenditures made by the association of Washington generals in support of the Washington world fellows program and the sports mentoring program shall be made available to the office of the lieutenant governor for the purpose of inclusion in the annual financial report.

(((6))) (7) The legislature may make appropriations in support of the Washington generals subject to the availability of funds.

Sec. 2.  RCW 46.68.420 and 2017 c 25 s 3 and 2017 c 11 s 4 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall:

(a) Collect special license plate fees established under RCW 46.17.220;

(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:

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the accounts described in subsection (2) of this section. The accounts are subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in this section, funds in the special license plate accounts described in subsection (2) of this section must be disbursed subject to the conditions described in subsection (2) of this section and under contract between the department and qualified nonprofit organizations that provide the services described in subsection (2) of this section.

(5) Funds from the Seattle Seahawks account may be provided to the lieutenant governor solely for the purpose of administering the Washington world fellows program. Of the amounts received by the lieutenant governor's office under this subsection, at least ninety percent must be provided as fellowships under the program.

(7) For the purposes of this section, a "qualified nonprofit organization" means a not-for-profit corporation operating in Washington that has received a determination of tax exempt status under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3). The qualified nonprofit organization must meet all the requirements under RCW 46.18.100(1).

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 43.15 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The sports mentoring program is established to enable eligible nonprofit community-based organizations to provide opportunities for underserved youth to join sports teams or otherwise participate in the area of sports. The goal of the program is to support youth in building self-confidence, developing skills in the areas of goal setting and collaboration, and promoting a healthy lifestyle through forming positive relationships with peers and family, avoiding risky or delinquent behavior, and achieving educational success. Proceeds from the Seattle Mariners special license plate, issued under RCW 46.18.200, must be deposited into the Seattle Mariners account in accordance with RCW 46.68.420. Funds in the account may only be used, except as provided under RCW 46.68.420(6), for grants to support youth to stay in school, participate in sports, and receive mentorships.

(2) The office of lieutenant governor will collaborate with the association of Washington generals to issue competitive grants to eligible organizations. The following criteria must be used to prioritize applications:

(a) Services provided by the organization to program participants are provided without a fee;

(b) Eligible organizations must assist children with enrolling in sports through their parents, guardians, or coach; and

(c) Eligible organizations must provide professional staff support to the mentor, child, and parent.

(3) Eligible organizations must meet the following requirements:

(a) Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization;

(b) Conduct national criminal background checks for all employees and volunteer mentors who work with children;

(c) Have adopted standards for care including staff training, health and safety standards, and mechanisms for assessing and enforcing the program's compliance with the standards adopted;

(d) Ensure that sixty percent or more of the children they serve are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch;

(e) Provide free, direct services to children through volunteer mentoring; and

(f) Provide professional oversight of all mentoring relationships for each child served.

Sec. 4.  RCW 46.17.220 and 2017 c 25 s 2 and 2017 c 11 s 3 are each reenacted and 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 46.16A RCW, the holder of a special license plate shall pay the appropriate special license plate fee as listed in this section.

Sec. 5.  RCW 46.18.200 and 2017 c 25 s 1 and 2017 c 11 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) Special license plate series reviewed and approved by the 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 department.

(2) The department approves and shall issue the following special license plates:

(3) Applicants for initial and renewal professional firefighters and paramedics special license plates must show proof of eligibility by providing a certificate of current membership from the Washington state council of firefighters.

(4) Applicants for initial volunteer firefighters special license plates must (a) have been a volunteer firefighter for at least ten years or be a volunteer firefighter for one or more years and (b) have documentation of service from the district of the appropriate fire service. If the volunteer firefighter leaves firefighting service before ten years of service have been completed, the volunteer firefighter shall surrender the license plates to the department on the registration renewal date. If the volunteer firefighter stays in service for at least ten years and then leaves, the license plate may be retained by the former volunteer firefighter and as long as the license plate is retained for use the person will continue to pay the future registration renewals. A qualifying volunteer firefighter may have no more than one set of license plates per vehicle, and a maximum of two sets per applicant, for their personal vehicles. If the volunteer firefighter is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or a felony, the license plates must be surrendered upon conviction.

Sec. 6.  RCW 46.68.430 and 2010 c 161 s 811 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall:

(a) Collect special license plates fees established under RCW 46.17.220(((1) (c) and (e))) (6);

(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 remaining special license plate fees to the following accounts by special license plate type:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7.  A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:

"Seattle Mariners license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing the Seattle Mariners.

(1) RCW 46.04.062 (Baseball stadium license plate) and 2010 c 161 s 105; and

(2) RCW 46.18.215 (Baseball stadium license plates) and 2011 c 332 s 3, 2010 c 161 s 614, 1997 c 291 s 5, 1995 3rd sp.s. c 1 s 102, 1994 c 194 s 2, & 1990 c 250 s 1.

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