A session-long attempt to address rising catalytic converter thefts in the state culminated with the Washington Legislature approving a bill that aims to crack down on scofflaws.

House Bill 1815 was approved 97-0 by the House on Tuesday, March, 8, and now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk for final consideration. The decision by the House comes a few days after the state Senate approved the bill 48-0 on Friday, March 4.

The bill, which was heavily amended during the course of the 2022 legislative session, reflects a blending with another bill sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview.

“They say laws are like sausages, and you really don’t want to watch ’em being made. I got a chance to see that principle in action this session,” said Wilson, whose 19th Senate District stretches from Aberdeen to Longview, in a statement on Tuesday.

“I don’t think any bill was worked as hard as this one this year, with as many revisions, negotiations and compromises. The final result is something the Legislature can be proud of. And the fact there were no dissenting votes shows us how well we did our job.”

The final version of HB 1815 imposes, among other things, new requirements on scrap yards and auto wreckers that buy used catalytic converters for recycling. The bill also creates a grant program for local law enforcement sting operations, as well as a task force to consider further changes to state law.

HB 1815, which was sponsored by Rep. Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline, contains the following provisions:

— Washington State University would convene a catalytic converter workgroup to make recommendations to reduce catalytic converter theft, including changes to state law. Members would include representatives of police, prosecutors, courts, affected industries, insurers and crime victims. A final report would be due Jan. 1, 2023.

— New requirements would be placed on scrap metal businesses that purchase used catalytic converters. Individual sellers would have to document they own the vehicles from which catalytic converters are removed, and purchases would be prohibited if sellers fail to produce a valid driver’s license or government photo ID card.

— Cash payments on the spot would be prohibited, and payments would have to be made by check after three days.

— Auto wreckers purchasing catalytic converters for resale to scrap yards would be subject to similar purchasing requirements.

— Violations of the purchasing rules would be a gross misdemeanor, with a fine of $1,000 per catalytic converter.

— The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs would develop a comprehensive law enforcement strategy, training courses and a grant program for local law enforcement agencies in high-crime areas. Money would be used to fund police sting operations and other efforts.

— Persons who attempt to buy or sell stolen catalytic converters would be added to the state’s “no-buy” database.

— The bill declares an emergency and takes effect immediately upon signature by the governor.

However, a provision that was eliminated from the final bill would have made the attempted unlawful sale of a catalytic converter a Class C felony. That provision was championed by Wilson, who said he expects the issue to come up in next year’s legislative session.

“This isn’t just a nuisance crime. It’s an epidemic. Thousands of Washington residents have been victimized, and the cost to repair a vehicle after tailpipes and sensors have been (sawed) through can be immense. We need to cover all the angles, and felony penalties for catalytic converter thieves should be one of them,” said Wilson in a statement.

“I’m sure this is something the task force will consider, and that the Legislature will be dealing with this issue next year. In the meantime, the most important thing is to take action now, before more catalytic converters are stolen. What we’re doing this year is breaking the chain and eliminating the incentive for catalytic converter theft, by making it extremely difficult to sell a stolen catalytic converter to a legitimate business in the state of Washington. It’s a great place to start.”

The legislation was spurred by catalytic converter thefts across Washington and the United States that started with a steep rise in precious metal prices in 2020 and 2021.

Wilson said recyclers are now paying high prices for used catalytic converters, which contain palladium and rhodium, creating a bounty for thieves nationwide. Thousands have been stolen in Washington alone, often doing damage to vehicle emissions systems that costs thousands of dollars to repair.

The Washington Legislature wrapped up its 2022 session on March 10.