HB 2859
Initials JB Page 1 Caucus & COW
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
Second Regular Session
House: TI DPA 11-0-0-0
HB 2859: teen suicide awareness special plates
Sponsor: Representative Gress, LD 4
Caucus & COW
Overview
Establishes the Teen Suicide Awareness Special Plate and Fund.
History
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is required to provide every vehicle
owner one license plate for every vehicle registered upon application and payment of fees
(A.R.S. § 28- 2351). Statute requires ADOT to issue or renew special plates according to
specified requirements (A.R.S. § 28-2403). An initial and annual renewal fee of $25 is
required for the special plate in addition to the vehicle registration fees. Of the $25 special
plate fee, $8 is an administrative fee and $17 is an annual donation (A.R.S. §§ 28-2402, 2404).
Special plates require a standard $32,000 implementation fee.
All license plates, including special plates, that are designed or redesigned after September
24, 2022, are required to have: 1) the background color of the license plate contrast
significantly with the color of the letters and numerals and the name of the state on the
license plate; and 2) the name of the state appear on the license plate in capital letters in
sans serif font with a height of three-fourths of an inch (A.R.S. § 28- 2351).
Provisions
1. Establishes the Teen Suicide Awareness Special Plate and Fund if a person pays $32,000
to ADOT by December 31, 2024. (Sec. 3)
2. Requires the person who provides the $32,000 to design the Teen Suicide Awareness
Special Plate. (Sec. 3)
3. States that the design and color of the Teen Suicide Awareness Special Plate are subject
to the approval of ADOT. (Sec. 3)
4. Allows the Director of ADOT (Director) to combine requests for the Teen Suicide
Awareness Plate with requests for personalized special plates and subjects the request to
additional fees. (Sec. 3)
5. Stipulates that of the $25 fee for the Teen Suicide Awareness Special Plate, $8 is an
administration fee and $17 is an annual donation. (Sec. 3)
6. Requires ADOT to deposit all Teen Suicide Awareness Special Plate administration fees
into the State Highway Fund and all donations into the Teen Suicide Awareness Special
Plate Fund (Fund). (Sec. 3)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note HB 2859
Initials JB Page 2 Caucus & COW
7. Directs the first $32,000 in the Fund to be reimbursed to the person who paid the
implementation fee. (Sec. 3)
8. Tasks the Director with administering the Fund. (Sec. 3)
9. Asserts that no more than 10% of monies in the Fund may be used for the cost of
administering the Fund. (Sec. 3)
10. Stipulates that monies in the Fund are continuously appropriated. (Sec. 3)
11. Requires the Director to annually allocate monies from the Fund to an entity that is
qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code for federal
income tax purposes that:
a) has been established in this state in 1986 to prevent teen suicide;
b) provides a peer-to-peer teen crisis hotline and text line;
c) has a mission to prevent teen suicide through enhancing resiliency in youth and
fostering supportive communities;
d) provides teen suicide prevention education to teenagers, schools and the community
at large;
e) has begun the school identification card initiative in 2015 to put peer counseling
information on the back of the cards;
f) hosts tabling events for teen suicide prevention awareness month;
g) provides prevention and hotline services to children and families at no cost; and
h) facilitates suicide prevention trainings for school staff. (Sec. 3)
12. Directs the State Treasurer, on notice from the Director, to invest and divest Fund monies
and states that monies earned from investment must be credited to the Fund. (Sec. 3)
13. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-2, 4-6)
Amendments
Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
1. Modifies the deadline for a person to pay $32,000 to ADOT to issue the Gila River Indian
Community Special Plates from December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2024.
2. Establishes the Arizona Professional Women's Basketball Club Special Plate if a person
pays $32,000 to ADOT by December 31, 2024.
3. Requires the person who provides the $32,000 to design the Arizona Professional
Women's Basketball Club Special Plate. (Sec. 3)
4. States that the design and color of the Arizona Professional Women's Basketball Club
Special Plate are subject to the approval of ADOT. (Sec. 3)
5. Requires ADOT to deposit all Arizona Professional Women's Basketball Club Special
Plate administration fees into the State Highway Fund and all donations into the Arizona
Professional Basketball Clubs Special Plate Fund which goes towards an Arizona
Professional Basketball Organization's foundation that is qualified under section
501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code for federal income tax purposes.
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note