SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1002
92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR BRAY.
Read 1st time January 7, 2004, and ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
3710S.01I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 301, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to special license plates.
Section A. Chapter 301, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 301.3135, to read as follows:
301.3135. 1. Any person may receive special license plates with words and an emblem that denotes support for choice, pursuant to this section, for any motor vehicle such person owns either solely or jointly, other than an apportioned motor vehicle or a commercial motor vehicle licensed in excess of eighteen thousand pounds gross weight after a contribution of at least twenty-five dollars, or at least fifty dollars in the case of a biennial registration, to the Missouri freedom=choice support fund. Such license plates shall be called "Freedom=Choice".
2. Freedom=choice license plates shall bear the words "Freedom=Choice" in place of the words "SHOW-ME STATE" and shall bear the image of two human figures holding hands. Such license plates shall be made with fully reflective material with a common color scheme and design, shall be clearly visible at night, and shall be aesthetically attractive, pursuant to section 301.130. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 301.144, no additional fee shall be charged for the personalization of license plates issued pursuant to this section.
3. The contribution of at least twenty-five dollars, or at least fifty dollars in the case of a biennial registration, to the Missouri freedom=choice support fund shall be made to the director of revenue at the time of registration of the vehicle. The director shall transfer such contributions to the state treasurer for deposit in the Missouri freedom=choice support fund. Upon the receipt of such contribution, payment of a fifteen dollar fee in addition to the regular registration fees, payment of the regular registration fees, and presentation of other documents that may be required by law, the director of revenue shall issue freedom=choice license plates to the vehicle owner.
4. There shall be no limit on the number of sets of freedom=choice license plates a person may obtain pursuant to this section so long as such license plates are issued for vehicles owned solely or jointly by such person, and so long as a contribution of at least twenty-five dollars, or at least fifty dollars in the case of a biennial registration, is made for each set of freedom=choice license plates.
5. A vehicle owner who was previously issued freedom=choice license plates but who does not make a contribution of at least twenty-five dollars, or at least fifty dollars in the case of a biennial registration, to the Missouri freedom=choice support fund at a subsequent time of registration shall be issued new plates that are not freedom=choice license plates, as otherwise provided by law.
6. The director of revenue shall issue samples of freedom=choice license plates to all offices in this state where vehicles are registered and license plates are issued. Such sample license plates shall be prominently displayed in such offices along with literature prepared by the director describing the license plates, the Missouri freedom=choice support fund, and the purposes for which the fund is used.
7. The general assembly may appropriate moneys annually from the Missouri freedom=choice support fund to the department of revenue to offset costs reasonably incurred by the director of revenue pursuant to subsections 1 to 6 of this section.
8. There is hereby established in the state treasury the "Missouri Freedom=Choice Support Fund". The state treasurer shall credit to and deposit in such fund:
(1) Moneys that may be required by law to be credited to or deposited in such fund;
(2) Moneys that may be appropriated to it by the general assembly;
(3) Other amounts that may be received from general revenue, grants, gifts, bequests, settlements, awards, or from federal, state, or local sources; and
(4) Any other sources granted or given for this specific purpose.
9. The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the Missouri freedom=choice support fund in the same manner as surplus state funds are invested pursuant to section 30.260, RSMo. All earnings that result from the investment of moneys in the fund shall be credited to such fund.
10. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080, RSMo, to the contrary, moneys in the Missouri freedom=choice support fund shall not revert to the credit of general revenue at the end of the biennium.
11. Moneys credited to and deposited in the Missouri freedom=choice support fund shall only be used for the purposes authorized pursuant to this section or as otherwise provided by law.
12. Until the amount in the Missouri freedom=choice support fund exceeds one million dollars, not more than one-half of the moneys credited to and deposited in the fund from all sources, plus all earnings from the investment of moneys in the fund during the previous fiscal year, shall be available for disbursement. When the state treasurer certifies that the assets in the fund exceed one million dollars, all credited earnings plus all future credits to the fund from all sources shall be available for disbursement.
13. The Missouri freedom=choice support fund shall be used to provide and promote family planning services by grants to, or contracts with, providers of family planning services in this state. The general assembly shall appropriate moneys from the freedom=choice support fund to providers of family planning services and pursuant to the provisions of this act. None of these funds appropriated herein may be used for abortion or counseling for abortion.
14. As used in this section, "family planning services" shall include, but not be limited to, the following services: breast exams for the early detection of breast cancer, Pap test for the detection of cervical cancer, gynecologic exams, testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, health screenings for high blood pressure and diabetes, pregnancy testing, nondirective pregnancy counseling, domestic violence and sexual abuse education, counseling and referral for mental health and substance abuse, contraceptive counseling and client-appropriate birth control methods, infertility management, and preconception counseling.