SPECIAL REG. PLATE; WOMEN VETERANS S.B. 788:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 788 (as introduced 3-13-24)
Sponsor: Senator Sylvia Santana
Committee: Veterans and Emergency Services
CONTENT
The bill would add Section 803t to the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow a woman veteran to apply to the Secretary of State (SOS) for a "woman veteran" special registration plate. The bill also would prescribe a misdemeanor penalty for the wrongful use of the special registration plate.
Woman Veteran Special Registration Plate; Eligibility
Specifically, a woman who met either of the following requirements could apply to the SOS for a special registration plate that displayed an appropriate vignette preceding the registration numbers and had the words "woman veteran" inscribed beneath the registration numbers:
-- Was a member of the Michigan National Guard, the United States Armed Forces Reserve, or any branch of the United States Armed Forces and was called to active duty during a declared war or an armed conflict in which the United States was a participant.
-- Was a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including reservists and National Guard, and had retired or been granted an honorable discharge from that branch of the United States Armed Forces.
Application Process
Application for a special registration plate would have to be on a form prescribed by the SOS and would have to be accompanied by any proof of the applicant meeting the requirements listed above that the SOS could require. The application for a special registration plate could not require a service fee under Section 804.[1]
The special registration plate would expire on the birthday of the vehicle owner. The applicant would not be required to furnish the proof listed above for an application for renewal of the special registration plate.
Upon proper application, the SOS would have to issue one or more special registration plates for each applicant for use on a passenger vehicle. An individual who was disabled who applied for a special registration plate would have to be issued a tab for persons with disabilities as provided in Section 803f for the special registration plate.[2] The SOS would have to require
the same proof that the applicant was a disabled person as required for issuing a permanent windshield placard under Section 675.[3] A person issued one or more special registration plates would have to be assessed the applicable registration fee.
Penalties
The use of a special registration plate on a vehicle other than the vehicle for which the plate was issued, or by a person who did not qualify, would be a misdemeanor. The bill would not preclude a person from applying for any other registration plate under the Code.
Proposed MCL 257.803t Legislative Analyst: Alex Krabill
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill could create some costs for the Department of State to produce a new vehicle registration plate with a vignette for "Woman Veteran"; however, the costs should be absorbable within annual appropriations. There would be no service fee applied to this plate and the vehicle registration tax revenues would remain the same and be deposited into the Michigan Transportation Fund.
Additionally, the bill could have an indeterminate negative fiscal impact and an indeterminate positive fiscal impact on State and local government. New misdemeanor arrests and convictions under the bill could increase resource demands on law enforcement, court systems, community supervision, and jails; however, it is unknown how many people would be prosecuted under provisions of the bill. Local jail costs vary by jurisdiction and thus costs for local governments would vary. Local revenue to local libraries could increase under the bill as any additional revenue from imposed fines would go to local libraries.
Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco, Jr.
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.
[1] Generally, Section 804 of the Code requires a $5 service fee to be paid with each application for each distinctive or commemorative plate to cover manufacturing and issuance costs.
[2] Generally, Section 803f of the Code allows the SOS to issue a tab for persons with disabilities to a disabled person who has been issued a special registration plate. The tab must be an adhesive tab displaying the international wheelchair symbol or a similar symbol. The disabled person may attach the adhesive tab to the person's special registration plate.
[3] Under Section 675, "disabled person" generally means a person who is determined by a physician licensed to practice in Michigan to have one or more specific physical characteristics, such as blindness, an inability to walk more than 200 feet without rest, and an inability to use one or both legs or feet and walk without assistance, among other like characteristics.
SAS\S2324\s788sa
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.