- Introduced -

SB 1233 - This act creates various special license plates and establishes a procedure to streamline the creation of such plates.

SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE PROCEDURE THROUGH JOINT COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION OVERSIGHT - Under this act, the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight is assigned the duty of approving or denying special license plate applications submitted to it by the Department of Revenue (Section 21.795). This act also removes the special license plate exemption which allowed organizations to forego the 100 applicants requirement by paying for the actual cost of initial issuance (Section 301.2999).

Organizations seeking authorization to establish a new special license plate must initially petition the Department of Revenue. The organization must submit an application which:

(1) Describes the proposed license plate;

(2) Is accompanied by 100 applications and special plate fees from eligible applicants who plan to purchase the special license plate; and

(3) Is accompanied by an application fee, not to exceed $5,000, to defray the cost of reviewing the application and developing the plate (Section 301.3150).

All moneys received by the Department of Revenue, excluding the special license plate fee, shall be deposited in the "Department of Revenue Specialty Plate Fund". The state treasurer shall be the custodian of the fund and shall make disbursements from the fund for the development and review of special license plates.

The required documents and fees must be submitted to the Department of Revenue by July 1st prior to the next regular session of the general assembly to be approved by the joint committee on transportation oversight. If the special license plate application is approved by the Joint Committee, the sponsoring organization shall submit the proposed art work to the Department of Revenue no later than 60 days after such approval. If the joint committee denies the application, 97% of the application fee shall be refunded to the organization along with all special license plate fees submitted. The department shall begin production and distribution of the new special license plates within one year after approval of the special license plate by the Joint Committee. The department is authorized to discontinue issuance of special license plates if the organization no long provides services or has stopped issuing emblem use-authorization statements.

Any person or organization who has received a notice of denial of application for development of a special license plate may request a hearing to review the committee's decision within 15 days of receiving the notice of denial (Section 301.3152).

The special license plate fee for all special plates, except special military license plates, is increased from $15 to $25 (Section 301.3154).

SPECIAL PLATES UNIFORMITY - Under this act, the restriction that personalized plates not exceed six characters in length is removed. The personalization fee is increased from $15 to $25 (Section 301.144).

AMATEUR RADIO PLATES - This act requires that amateur radio license plates contain the words "AMATEUR RADIO" in place of the words "SHOW-ME-STATE". Previous plate owners making a new application and paying a new fee to retain an amateur radio plate may request a replacement plate with the words "AMATEUR RADIO" in place of the words "SHOW-ME-STATE". This portion of the act is substantially similar to SB 89 (2003) and HB 684 (2001).

PEACE OFFICER PLATES - This act allows peace officers wounded in the line of duty, or surviving spouses, parents, brothers, sisters or children of a peace officer killed in the line of duty, to receive special license plates. The applicant shall pay $15 in addition to regular registration fees. The plate shall bear the insignia depicting a yellow rose superimposed over the outline of a badge and shall bear the words "TO PROTECT AND SERVE". This provision is similar to the one contained in SB 134 (2003).

FIREFIGHTER PLATES - This act allows firefighters wounded in the line of duty, or surviving spouses, parents, brothers, sisters or children of a firefighter killed in the line of duty, to receive special license plates. The applicant shall pay $15 in addition to regular registration fees. The plate shall bear the words "FIREFIGHERS MEMORIAL". This provision is similar to the one contained in SB 171 (2003).

U.S. VETERAN LICENSE PLATES - This act allows honorably discharged veterans to obtain "U.S. VET" motor vehicle license plates. To obtain these plates, the individual will pay $15 in addition to regular registration fees. This act also removes the requirement from the U.S. VET motorcycle plate provision that the person must have served during a period of war (Section 301.3999). This provision is similar to one contained in SB 240 (2003).

FOXTROTTING LICENSE PLATE - This act allows members of the Missouri Foxtrotting Horse Breed Association to obtain specialized license plates. After making a $25 contribution to the association, the member may obtain the specialized license plate by paying $15 in addition to regular registration fees. The act allows members of the Missouri Foxtrotting Horse Breed Association to personalize the specialized license plates without a fee. The plate shall bear the words "FOXTROTTER - STATE HORSE". This part of the act is identical to SB 261 and HB 170 (2003).

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION - This act allows members of the Missouri State Society Daughters of the American Revolution to obtain specialized license plates. To obtain the specialized plate, the member of the organization must pay a one-time emblem-use authorization contribution of $25 and $15 in addition to regular registration fees (Section 301.134). This provision was contained in SB 368 (2003).

KIDS WITH CANCER LICENSE PLATES - This act allows persons to receive "Friends of Kids with Cancer" license plates after making an annual $25 contribution to the Friends of Kids with Cancer organization. In addition to the $25 contribution, the person must pay $15 plus regular registration fees. No additional fee shall be assessed for the personalization of such plates. This provision was contained in SB 369 (2003)(Section 301.3122).

SPECIAL OLYMPIC LICENSE PLATES - This act creates the Special Olympics Missouri license plate. An individual may obtain such a plate after paying $25 to Special Olympics Missouri in addition to the $15 special license plate fee and other registration fees. This provision was contained in SB 382 (2003)(Section 301.3124).

CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND LICENSE PLATES (SB 402) - This act modifies the law regarding Children's Trust Fund license plates. This act states that the plates cannot be issue for apportioned motor vehicles or commercial motor vehicles in excess of 18,000 pounds. This act allows the $25 contribution to be made at time the of registration. This act also requires the Director of Revenue to issue sample license plates to be displayed in revenue offices and that literature describing the Children's Trust Fund be distributed in such offices. This provision is similar to one contained in SB 402 (2003).

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS LICENSE PLATE - This act allows members of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers to receive special license plates. In order to obtain such a plate, the member must pay $25 for a emblem-use contribution to the organization and pay $15 in addition to regular registration fees. This provision was contained in SB 403(2003).

ORGAN DONOR LICENSE PLATE - This act creates an organ donor license plate. In order to receive an organ donor license plate, the driver must first donate $25 to the Organ Donor Program Fund established under section 194.297. The driver must also pay $15 in addition to regular registration fees. The license plate will bear the words "BE AN ORGAN DONOR" in lieu of the words "SHOW-ME STATE". The plates will be designed by the director of revenue in consultation with the Organ Donation Advisory Committee. This provision was contained in SB 419 (2003).

ALPHA PHI OMEGA LICENSE PLATES - This act allows members or alumni of Alpha Phi Omega to obtain specialized license plates. A member may obtain such a plate by making an annual emblem-use contribution fee of $25 to the organization and by paying a fee of $15 in addition to regular registration fees. This provision was contained in SB 484 (2003).

FORMER LEGISLATORS - This act allows former members of the Missouri legislature to receive special license plates. This provision is similar to one contained in HB 1789 (2002)(Section 301.3106).

STREET RODS AND CUSTOM VEHICLE REGISTRATION - This act establishes new registration procedures for street rods and custom vehicles. The act defines "street rod" and "custom vehicle". The annual fee for these vehicles shall equal the fee charged for a personalized license plate ($15) plus regular registration fees. Owners of these types of vehicles must certify at the time of registration that the vehicles will be maintained for occasional transportation, exhibits, club activities, parades, tours, and similar uses and will not be used for general daily transportation. These vehicles are exempt from vehicle inspections and emission tests. License plates for these categories of vehicles shall bear the words "STREET ROD" or "CUSTOM VEHICLE". A street rod or custom vehicle may use blue dot tail lights for stop lamps, rear turning indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps, and rear reflectors. A "blue dot tail light" is a red lamp installed in the rear of the motor vehicle which contains a blue or purple insert that is not more than one inch in diameter. These provisions are similar to HB 598, SB 570 and HB 283(2003)(Section 301.132).

BOY SCOUT/GIRL SCOUT PLATES - This act allows for special license plates designated "Boy Scouts of America", "Girl Scouts of America", and "Gold Award". To obtain these plates, a person must get an emblem-use authorization statement ($25 contribution). Persons wanting a "Boy Scouts of America" plate must get the authorization statement from any local district council in the state. Persons wanting a "Girl Scouts of America" or "Gold Award" plate must get the authorization statement from the Girl Scouts of America. The use authorization statement must be presented to the Department of Revenue at the time of registration along with a $15 fee in addition to the registration fee and other documents required by law. No additional fee will be charged for personalization of these plates. Revenue collected from authorization contributions, minus any reasonable administrative cost, will be used solely for the purposes of the respective organizations. This portion of this act is identical to HB 626 (2003).

CAMP QUALITY LICENSE PLATES - This act allows persons who make a $25 contribution to Camp Quality of Missouri to receive license plates with that organization's insignia. Contributions received by the organization will be used for providing scholarships to children with cancer.

STATE TROOPERS EMERGENCY RELIEF SOCIETY - This act allows members of the Missouri Association of State Troopers Emergency Relief Society to obtain license plates bearing the organization's emblem. The Missouri Association of State Troopers Emergency Relief Society will authorize the use of its emblem after receiving a $25 emblem-use contribution fee. This fee must be used solely for the purposes of Missouri Association of State Troopers Emergency Relief Society. In addition to the $25 contribution, any applicant desiring this specialized license plate shall pay $15 in addition to regular registration fees. This provision is similar to SB 216 (2003).

NRA LICENSE PLATE - This act creates the National Rifle Association license plate (Section 301.3145).

STEPHEN WITTE