Alabama 2024 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB314 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HB314INTRODUCED
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3	3	HB314
4	4	XCPWZ77-1
5	5	By Representatives Travis, Lovvorn, Standridge, Bolton,
6	6	McCampbell, Gray, Kirkland
7	7	RFD: Public Safety and Homeland Security
8	8	First Read: 07-Mar-24
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14	14	6 XCPWZ77-1 03/07/2024 MAP (L)ma 2024-833
15	15	Page 1
16	16	First Read: 07-Mar-24
17	17	SYNOPSIS:
18	18	Under existing law, volunteer firefighters are
19	19	eligible to receive a firefighter distinctive license
20	20	plate.
21	21	This bill would expand eligibility for the
22	22	firefighter distinctive license plate to include fire
23	23	chaplains.
24	24	Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of
25	25	2022, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect
26	26	would be to require a new or increased expenditure of
27	27	local funds from becoming effective with regard to a
28	28	local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3
29	29	vote unless: it comes within one of a number of
30	30	specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected
31	31	entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or
32	32	provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for
33	33	the purpose.
34	34	The purpose or effect of this bill would be to
35	35	require a new or increased expenditure of local funds
36	36	within the meaning of the section. However, the bill
37	37	does not require approval of a local governmental
38	38	entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective
39	39	because it comes within one of the specified exceptions
40	40	contained in the section.
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68	68	28 HB314 INTRODUCED
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70	70	A BILL
71	71	TO BE ENTITLED
72	72	AN ACT
73	73	Relating to motor vehicle registrations and license
74	74	plates; to amend Section 32-6-271, Code of Alabama 1975, to
75	75	expand eligibility for the firefighter distinctive license
76	76	plate to include fire chaplains; and in connection therewith
77	77	would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new
78	78	or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of
79	79	Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.
80	80	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
81	81	Section 1. Section 32-6-271, Code of Alabama 1975, is
82	82	amended to read as follows:
83	83	"§32-6-271
84	84	(a)(1) A firefighter, upon application and subject to
85	85	this division, may be issued a distinctive motor vehicle
86	86	license plate as identification as a firefighter. In addition
87	87	to the proper numbers, words, and insignias used on the
88	88	standard license plate issued for motor vehicles, the
89	89	firefighter distinctive license plates issued to firefighters
90	90	shall bear a red Maltese cross emblem on each side to the left
91	91	and right of the regular tag numbers. The words "Fire Fighter"
92	92	should be centered at the bottom of the license plate.
93	93	(2)a. A fire chaplain, who is a member of the Alabama
94	94	Fellowship of Fire Chaplains, upon application and subject to
95	95	this division, may be issued one firefighter distinctive
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125	125	this division, may be issued one firefighter distinctive
126	126	license plate.
127	127	b. Proof of service as a fire chaplain shall be
128	128	verified by an affidavit signed by the President of the
129	129	Alabama Fellowship of Fire Chaplains attesting that the
130	130	applicant is a member in good standing of that organization
131	131	and eligible to receive the firefighter distinctive license
132	132	plate. An individual who is no longer a member in good
133	133	standing of the Alabama Fellowship of Fire Chaplains is
134	134	ineligible to receive the firefighter distinctive license
135	135	plate.
136	136	(b) In addition to any other fees provided for by law,
137	137	an annual additional fee of one dollar ($1.00) is added to the
138	138	cost of the firefighter distinctive license plate provided for
139	139	in this division, effective January 1, 2022. The annual
140	140	additional fee collected pursuant to this section shall be
141	141	distributed by each licensing official to the state
142	142	Comptroller, . The state Comptroller who shall distribute the
143	143	net proceeds monthly as follows:
144	144	(1) Fifty cents ($.50) shall be deposited into a fund
145	145	managed by the Alabama Joint Fire Council and shall be used
146	146	for the purpose of expanding and maintaining the Alabama
147	147	Firefighter Memorial located in Tuscaloosa.
148	148	(2) Fifty cents ($.50) shall be distributed to the
149	149	Alabama Joint Fire Council to be used for expenses associated
150	150	with the Firefighter Peer Support Program.
151	151	(3) Fees collected for firefighter distinctive license
152	152	plates issued to fire chaplains shall be distributed to the
153	153	Alabama Fellowship of Fire Chaplains.
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183	183	Alabama Fellowship of Fire Chaplains.
184	184	(c) The funds generated by this fee shall be subject to
185	185	audit from either the Department of Examiners of Public
186	186	Accounts or an independent certified public accountant once
187	187	every three calendar years effective January 1, 2022.
188	188	(d) The firefighter distinctive license plates issued
189	189	under this section shall be used only upon and for personally
190	190	owned, private passenger vehicles, to include station wagons
191	191	and pick-up trucks, registered in the name of the applicant
192	192	and, when issued to the applicant, shall be used upon the
193	193	vehicle for which it is issued in lieu of the standard license
194	194	plate normally issued for the vehicle.
195	195	(e) Any individual who is proven to have falsely
196	196	obtained or falsely certified an individual to obtain a
197	197	firefighter distinctive license plate issued under this
198	198	section shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and, upon
199	199	conviction, shall be punished according to law.
200	200	(f) The Department of Revenue may adopt any rules
201	201	necessary to administer this section. "
202	202	Section 2. Although this bill would have as its purpose
203	203	or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of
204	204	local funds, the bill is excluded from further requirements
205	205	and application under Section 111.05 of the Constitution of
206	206	Alabama of 2022, because the bill defines a new crime or
207	207	amends the definition of an existing crime.
208	208	Section 3. This act shall become effective on January
209	209	1, 2025.
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