LICENSE PLATES FOR THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL FUND

House Bill 4879

Sponsor: Rep. Sue Rocca

Complete to 10-4-99

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4879 AS INTRODUCED 9-28-99

The bill would add a new section to the Michigan Vehicle Code to require the secretary of state to develop and issue a "Michigan veterans memorial registration plate" that would contain a specialized design pertaining to Michigan veterans, with the service fees from such license plates going to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

Design. The secretary of state would determine the design of the plate and prescribe the numbers and letters that would appear on the plate, but would have to include the word "Michigan" on each such license plate.

Service fees. A license plate applicant could apply for a special "Michigan veterans memorial" plate instead of a regular license plate under the vehicle code's applications procedures, and would have to pay both the regular license plate tax and a service fee. The service fee for an original plate would be $3 for the first month and $2 a month for each additional month during the registration period. For a renewal plate, the service fee would be $10. The bill would allow the secretary of state to issue a temporary registration, without a separate fee, if the applicant's current vehicle registration would expire before he or she received the special plate. A temporary registration would expire either when the applicant received the special plate or 60 days after the plate was issued, whichever occurred first.

Vietnam veterans memorial monument fund. The secretary of state would have to identify and segregate into a separate account service fees that he or she collected from Michigan veterans memorial plates. After deducting the manufacturing and administrative costs (including the costs associated with issuing, replacing, and substituting plates), the secretary of state would transfer the service fees every quarter to the state treasurer, who would have to credit the fee money to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Monument Fund.

MCL 257.811d

Analyst: S. Ekstrom

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.