California Assembly Bill AB1550 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1550INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bonilla JANUARY 25, 2012 An act to amend Section 5068 of, and to add Section 5068.1 to, the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1550, as introduced, Bonilla. Vehicles: veterans' organizations license plates: fees. Under existing law, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues environmental and other specialized license plates, including veterans' organizations license plates. Veterans' organizations license plates are required to have a distinctive design or decal and are subject to fees for issuance, renewal, or personalization that are additional to those required for nonspecialized license plates. Existing law requires that the revenue from those additional fees, less the DMV's costs, be deposited in the Veterans Service Office Fund. Existing law requires money in the Veterans Service Office Fund to be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Veterans Affairs for allocation and disbursement to counties for the operation of county veterans service offices. This bill would increase the amount of those additional fees and would require the DMV, by July 1, 2013, to add a checkbox to its registration forms for an original or renewal of vehicle registration to allow individuals to donate funds to the Veterans Service Office Fund. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 5068 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 5068. (a) (1) (A) A veterans' organization may apply either individually or with other veterans' organizations to meet the application threshold set forth in Section 5060 for special interest plates. An organization that meets the minimum application requirement by applying with other organizations under this subdivision shall be issued a regular license plate bearing a distinctive design or decal approved under subdivision (a) of Section 5060. (B) The Department of Veterans Affairs may modify the distinctive design or decal described in subparagraph (A), consistent with the design criteria imposed by Section 5060. Special interest plates issued under this section and bearing the modified design or decal shall be issued only after all existing plates or decals have been issued. (2) Special interest plates issued under this section may be issued in a combination of numbers or letters, or both, requested by the owner or lessee of the vehicle, to be displayed in addition to the design or decal authorized under paragraph (1), subject to Section 5105. (b) In addition to the regular fees for an original registration, a renewal of registration, or a transfer of registration, the following fees shall be paid by individuals applying for a veterans' organization special interest license plate or decal: (1)  Thirty dollars ($30)   Fifty dollars ($50)  for the initial issuance of the plates and decals. The plates shall be permanent and shall not be required to be replaced. (2)  Thirty dollars ($30)   Forty dollars ($40)  for each renewal of registration that includes the continued display of the plates or decals. (3) Fifteen dollars ($15) for transfer of the plates to another vehicle. (4) Thirty-five dollars ($35) for replacement plates, if they become damaged or unserviceable. (5) Ten dollars ($10) for replacement decals, if they become damaged or unserviceable. (6)  Forty dollars ($40)   Ninety-eight dollars ($98)  for the personalization of the plates, as authorized under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a). (c)  By July 1, 2011, the   The  department shall maintain on its Internet Web site, a link to order online the special interest plates issued pursuant to this section. SEC. 2. Section 5068.1 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read: 5068.1. By July 1, 2013, the department shall add a checkbox to its registration forms for an original or renewal of vehicle registration to allow individuals to donate funds to the Veterans Service Office Fund created by Section 972.2 of the Military and Veterans Code.