California Senate Bill SB257 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 257AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 6, 2015 INTRODUCED BY Senator Bates FEBRUARY 18, 2015 An act to amend Section 5157 of the Vehicle Code, relating to license plates. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 257, as amended, Bates. Vehicles:  specialized   Gold Star Family  license plates.  Existing law establishes a specialized license plate program under which the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues specialized license plates on behalf of a sponsoring state agency that meets certain requirements. Existing law authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to sponsor a Gold Star Family specialized license plate program, which allows specified persons to apply for Gold Star Family license plates. Existing law requires that Gold Star Family license plates be issued in a sequential series.   This bill would authorize the DMV to issue personalized Gold Star Family license plates if the requester pays a $49 personalization fee. The bill would direct the revenue generated from the personalization fee to be deposited into the Motor Vehicle Account within the State Transportation Fund until the DMV's upfront cost of implementing this program is covered. The bill would then direct the revenue generated from the personalization fee to be deposited into the Veterans Service Office Fund.   Existing law establishes a specialized license plate program under which the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues specialized license plates on behalf of a sponsoring state agency that meets certain requirements. Under existing law, the DMV charges specified fees related to the issuance of those plates and deposits the fees, less the DMV's costs, in the Specialized License Plate Fund.   This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to that provision.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 5157 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 5157. (a) In addition to the regular fees for an original registration or renewal of registration, the following additional fees shall be paid for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of the specialized license plates: (1) For the original issuance of the plates, fifty dollars ($50). (2) For a renewal of registration with the plates, forty dollars ($40). (3) For transfer of the plates to another vehicle, fifteen dollars ($15). (4) For each substitute replacement plate, thirty-five dollars ($35). (5) In addition, for the issuance of environmental license plates, as defined in Section 5103, with a specialized license plate design, the additional fees prescribed in Sections 5106 and 5108. The additional fees prescribed in Sections 5106 and 5108 shall be deposited in the California Environmental License Plate Fund. (b)  (1)    The Gold Star Family specialized license plate program as provided in subdivision (d) of Section 5156 shall not be subject to the fees specified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (5) of subdivision (a) and shall only be issued in a sequential series.  (2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), Gold Star Family specialized license plates may be personalized if the family member pays forty-nine dollars ($49) for the personalization of the plates. The plates shall not be subject to the fees specified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (5) of subdivision (a).   (B) The revenue from the personalization fee shall be deposited into the Motor Vehicle Account within the State Transportation Fund until sufficient funds have been deposited to cover the Department of Motor Vehicles' upfront cost of implementing the personalization program. Upon the determination by the department that the upfront costs are recovered, all revenue from the personalization fee shall be deposited into the Veterans Service Office Fund.  (c) Except as provided in paragraph (5) of subdivision (a), and after deducting its administrative costs under this section, the department shall deposit the additional revenue derived from the issuance, renewal, transfer, and substitution of the specialized license plates in the Specialized License Plate Fund, which is hereby established in the State Treasury. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the moneys in that fund shall be allocated to each sponsoring agency in proportion to the amount in the fund that is attributable to the agency's specialized license plate program. Except as authorized under Section 5159, the sponsoring agency shall expend all funds received under this section exclusively for projects and programs that promote the state agency's official policy, mission, or work. (d) (1) The Department of Veterans Affairs may actively request and receive donations for the Gold Star Family License Plate Account which is hereby created in the Specialized License Plate Fund and which may consist of donations from public and private entities. Earnings generated by the Gold Star Family License Plate Account shall be retained by the account. (2) Upon the determination of the department that there are sufficient funds in the Gold Star Family License Plate Account for this purpose, moneys in the Gold Star Family License Plate Account shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the department for the necessary administrative costs of establishing the Gold Star Family specialized license plate program.