SPECIALTY PLATE FOR EX-POW SPOUSE - H.B. 4651 (H-3): COMMITTEE SUMMARY
House Bill 4651 (Substitute H-3 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Gary Woronchak
House Committee: Veterans Affairs
Senate Committee: Transportation and Tourism
Date Completed: 11-12-02
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow the spouse of a former prisoner of war to obtain a special registration plate; and eliminate the $5 service fee that is charged for an "EX-POW" plate or a "World War I veteran", "Pearl Harbor survivor", or "combat wounded veteran" plate.
Under the Code, a person who has been a prisoner of war may apply to the Secretary of State for a special registration plate that is inscribed with special identification numbers preceded by the letters "EX-POW", and has the words "ex-prisoner of war" beneath the registration number. Under the bill, the surviving spouse of a person who had been a prisoner of war, or a person whose current spouse had been a prisoner of war, also could apply for the special plate.
Currently, a $5 service fee must accompany an application for an EX-POW, World War I veteran, Pearl Harbor survivor, or combat wounded veteran plate. Renewal of a plate also requires a $5 service fee. The bill would eliminate these fees.
MCL 257.803e - Legislative Analyst: Suzanne Lowe
FISCAL IMPACT
This bill would waive the current $5 service fee for purchase of a veteran license plate. The level of the service fee is set to be revenue-neutral, meaning it covers exactly the cost of producing the plate and the State experiences no net gain or loss. Waiving the service fee would result in a cost to the State of $5 for every new plate issued. In FY 2000-01, the State issued a total of 1,448 of these plates, of which 1,418 were newly issued and 30 were renewed.
The bill also would extend eligibility for an ex-POW plate to current and surviving spouses of ex-POWs. It is unknown how many more people would obtain a veteran license plate under the expanded eligibility. The waiver of the application fee discussed above means that the State would absorb the administrative and production costs for each newly issued plate.
- Fiscal Analyst: Jessica RunnelsS0102\s4651sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.