Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Appropriations Committee

ESSB 5127

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: Increasing the traumatic brain injury fee.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators McCoy, Billig, Darneille, Hunt, Rolfes and Schoesler).

Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

  • Increases the Traumatic Brain Injury Account fee from $2 per traffic infraction to $5 per traffic infraction.

  • Prohibits the Traumatic Brain Injury Account fee from being reduced or waived.

  • Specifies new uses for the incremental revenue generated by the increased fee.

Hearing Date: 3/18/19

Staff: Mary Mulholland (786-7391).

Background:

Traffic Infraction Penalties, Assessments, and Fees.

The base penalties for the majority of traffic infractions are set by the Washington Supreme Court, the most common of which is $48. Once additional assessments and fees are included, the total amount owed for infractions with base penalties of $48 comes to $136. This total includes the following additional penalties and fees, which are assessed for all traffic offenses: two public safety and education assessments (105 percent of base penalty); a legislative assessment ($20 assessment); a trauma care fee ($5 fee); an auto theft prevention fee ($10 fee); and a Traumatic Brain Injury Account fee ($2 fee).

The public safety and education assessments, legislative assessment, trauma care fee, and auto theft prevention fee may not be reduced or waived. The Traumatic Brain Injury Account fee may be reduced or waived.

Funds collected from the Traumatic Brain Injury fee must be deposited in the Traumatic Brain Injury Account.

Traumatic Brain Injury Account.

The Traumatic Brain Injury Account is an appropriated account administered by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Funds from this account may only be used:

Summary of Bill:

The Traumatic Brain Injury Account fee is increased from $2 per traffic infraction to $5 per traffic infraction, and the fee may no longer be reduced or waived.

The incremental revenue from the fee increase shall be used for the following purposes:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on March 8, 2019.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.