Legislation Set to Affect Different Aspects of Driving

The Motorcycle Safety Education Advisory Board

By Monty E. Lish "MEL", Motorcycle Program Manager & S/TEP Program Manager, Evergreen Safety Council

Alert: HB 2617 Eliminating Boards and Committees
The omnibus bill to eliminate boards and commissions has been introduced in the house. (It is HB 2617). Section 151 eliminates the Motorcycle Safety Education Advisory Board and Section 157 eliminates the Non-highway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities Advisory Committee.

The Motorcycle Safety Education Advisory Board was created by law to help the Director of the Department of Licensing manage the motorcycle safety program.

Board membership
The board has 5 members:

• Three active motorcycle riders or people actively involved in a non-profit motorcycle organization that actively support motorcycle safety.
• One member of the Washington State Patrol with at least 5 years’ experience, and at least 1 year’s experience as a motor officer.
• One member of the general public.

Board members serve a 2-year term of office, and receive no compensation for services, except reimbursement for travel expenses while engaged in business of the board.

This board is self supporting and requires no funding from the state budget. This board advises or offers opinions to the Coordinator of the Washington Motorcycle Safety Program (WMSP) to help support or improve motorcycle safety training in the state.

The elimination of this board accomplishes nothing for the state budget and only hurts the process for providing motorcycle safety training.

Cell Phone Bill - Driving While Texting

Please visit Driven to Distraction Task Force for all of the latest media stories regarding the legislation and press conference. The media has been overwhelmingly supportive of the legislation.

Today marks the the first day of the legislative session in Olympia. A hearing for the cell phone bill is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 20 in the Senate Transportation Committee. Stay tuned this week for more details, including specific calls-to-action on House Bill 2635.

Thanks again for your support. We're off to a great start of session thanks to each of you!
Lindsay M. Pease
206.375.6536