Florida 2022 2022 Regular Session

Florida Senate Bill S0364 Analysis / Analysis

Filed 02/25/2022

                    The Florida Senate 
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT 
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.) 
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Appropriations  
 
BILL: CS/CS/SB 364  
INTRODUCER:  Appropriations Committee (Recommended by Appropriations Subcommittee on 
Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development); Transportation Committee; and 
Senators Bean and Perry 
SUBJECT:  Specialty License Plates 
DATE: February 25, 2022 
 
 ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR  REFERENCE  	ACTION 
1. Proctor Vickers TR Fav/CS 
2. Wells Hrdlicka ATD  Recommend: Fav/CS 
3. Wells Sadberry AP Fav/CS 
 
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information: 
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes 
 
I. Summary: 
CS/CS/SB 364 reduces the minimum voucher sale requirement for all specialty license plates to 
2,500, before manufacture of the license plate may commence. In addition, the bill directs the 
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to extend the presale period by an 
additional 24 months, from 24 months to 48 months, for an approved specialty license plate 
organization that, as of the date the bill becomes a law, is in the presale period but has not 
recorded at least 2,500 voucher sales. 
 
The bill provides that independent colleges or universities opting to use the standard template 
specialty license plate will have their plate sales combined with existing valid registrations of 
individual independent college or university license plates for purposes of meeting the minimum 
license plate sales threshold of 1,000 sales for at least 12 consecutive months and license plate 
limits in statute. 
 
The bill creates a Blue Angels motorcycle specialty license plate and seven new specialty license 
plates: Inter Miami CF; Safe Haven for Newborns; Pap Corps Champions for Cancer Research; 
Learn to Fly; Florida Swims; Ethical Ecotourism; Down Syndrome Awareness; Gopher Tortoise; 
and I Make Things. The bill also amends the existing Live the Dream specialty license plate. 
 
REVISED:   BILL: CS/CS/SB 364   	Page 2 
 
According to the DHSMV, the bill may have a negative, but insignificant, fiscal impact 
associated with programming costs. These costs can be absorbed within existing resources. 
 
The bill has an effective date of upon becoming a law 
II. Present Situation: 
Specialty License Plates 
Presently, there are 123 specialty license plates available for purchase in Florida and another 
36 specialty license plates available for pre-sale.
1
 Specialty license plates are available to an 
owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is willing to pay an annual use fee, ranging from $15 to 
$25, paid in addition to required license taxes and service fees.
2
 The annual use fees are 
distributed to organizations in support of a particular cause or charity signified on the plate’s 
design and designated in statute.
3
 In order to establish a specialty license plate and after the plate 
is approved by law, s. 320.08053, F.S., requires the following actions within certain timelines:  
 Within 60 days, the organization must submit an art design for the plate, in a medium 
prescribed by the DHSMV; 
 Within 120 days, the DHSMV must establish a method to issue pre-sale vouchers for the 
specialty license plate; and 
 Within 24 months after the pre-sale vouchers are established, the organization must obtain a 
minimum of 3,000 voucher sales, or in the case of an out-of-state college or university 
license plate, 4,000 voucher sales, before manufacturing of the plate may begin. 
 
If the minimum sales requirement has not been met by the end of the 24-month pre-sale period, 
then the DHSMV will discontinue the plate and issuance of pre-sale vouchers. Upon 
discontinuation, a purchaser of a presale voucher may use the annual use fee as a credit towards 
any other specialty license plate or apply for a refund with the DHSMV.
4
 
 
New specialty license plates that have been approved by law but are awaiting issuance will be 
issued in the order they appear in s. 320.08058, F.S., provided that presale requirements have 
met. If the next listed specialty license plate has not met the presale requirement, the DHSMV 
will proceed in the order provided in s. 320.08058, F.S., to identify the next qualified specialty 
license plate that has met the presale requirement.
5
 
 
If the Legislature has approved 150 or more specialty license plates, the DHSMV may not make 
any new specialty license plates available for design or issuance until a sufficient number of 
plates are discontinued so that the number of plates being issued does not exceed 150.
6
 
 
                                                
1
 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 2022 Legislative Bill Analysis for SB 364, (November 5, 2021), p. 2 
(on file in the Senate Committee on Transportation). 
2
 Section 320.08056(3)(d), F.S., provides that except if specifically provided in s. 320.08056(4), the annual use fee for a 
specialty license plate is $25. 
3
 Section 320.08058, F.S. 
4
 Section 320.08053(2)(b), F.S. 
5
 Section 320.08053(3)(a), F.S. 
6
 Section 320.08053(3)(b), F.S.  BILL: CS/CS/SB 364   	Page 3 
 
The annual use fees collected by an organization and any interest earned from the fees may be 
expended only for use in this state unless the annual use fee is derived from the sale of specified 
United States Armed Forces and veterans-related specialty plates.
7
 Additionally, organizations 
must adhere to certain accountability requirements, including an annual audit or attestation 
document affirming that funds received have been spent in accordance with applicable statutes.
8
 
 
DHSMV Costs Defrayed 
The DHSMV is authorized to retain a sufficient portion of annual use fees collected from the sale 
of specialty plates to defray its costs for inventory, distribution, and other direct costs associated 
with the specialty license plate program. The remainder of the proceeds collected are distributed 
as provided by law.
9
 
 
Discontinuance of Specialty Plates 
The DHSMV must discontinue the issuance of an approved specialty license plate if the number 
of valid registrations falls below 1,000 plates for at least 12 consecutive months. A warning letter 
is mailed to the sponsoring organization following the first month in which the total number of 
valid specialty license plate registrations is below 1,000 plates. Collegiate plates for Florida 
universities are exempt from the minimum specialty license plate requirement.
10
 In addition, the 
DHSMV is authorized to discontinue any specialty license plate if the organization no longer 
exists, stops providing services that are authorized to be funded from the annual use fee 
proceeds, or pursuant to an organizational recipient’s request.
11
 
 
However, effective July 1, 2023, the requirement increases so that the DHSMV must discontinue 
the issuance of an approved specialty license plate if the number of valid registrations falls below 
3,000 or in the case of an out-of-state college or university license plate, 4,000, for at least 
12 consecutive months. The DHSMV must mail a warning letter to the sponsoring organization 
following the first month in which the total number of valid specialty plate registrations is below 
3,000, or in the case of an out-of-state college or university license plate, 4,000. This does not 
apply to in-state collegiate license plates established under s. 320.08058(3), F.S., license plates 
of institutions in and entities of the State University System, specialty license plates that have 
statutory eligibility limitations for purchase, specialty license plates for which annual use fees are 
distributed by a foundation for student and teacher leadership programs and teacher recruitment 
and retention, or Florida professional sports team license plates established under 
s. 320.08058(9), F.S.
12
 
 
Out-of-state Specialty License Plates 
Three out-of-state specialty license plates are available through the DHSMV presale process. 
They are for the University of Alabama, Auburn University, and the University of Georgia.
13
 
 
                                                
7
 Section 320.08056(10)(a), F.S. 
8
 Section 320.08062, F.S. 
9
 Section 320.08056(7), F.S. 
10
 Section 320.08056(8)(a), F.S. 
11
 Section 320.08056(8)(b), F.S. 
12
 Chapter 2020-181, s. 7, Laws of Fla. 
13
 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 2022 Legislative Bill Analysis for SB 364, at p. 3.  BILL: CS/CS/SB 364   	Page 4 
 
Existing Specialty License Plate 
Independent Colleges and Universities 
In 2020, legislation was enacted to create a standard template for all independent colleges and 
universities to use for specialty license plates.
14
 At the time, 21 separate institutions had a 
specialty license plate. The DHSMV worked with the institutions to create a standard template 
specialty license plate with a unique logo or graphic to represent each independent college or 
university.
15
 The benefit of using the standard template specialty license plate is that all plate 
sales are combined to meet the required sales thresholds for continued use of plates.
16
 
 
The institutions are authorized to continue to use their specialty license plates or switch over to 
the standard template specialty license plate. The specialty license plate of any institution that 
switches to the standard template is discontinued.
17
 Currently there are about 25 institutions 
using the standard template specialty license plate.
18
 
 
Live the Dream Specialty License Plate 
Section 320.08058(47), F.S., provides for the distribution and use of the annual use fees for the 
Live the Dream plate. The annual use fees are to be used as follows: 
 Up to five percent to administer, promote, and market the license plate; 
 At least 60 percent must be distributed equally among the sickle cell organizations that are 
Florida members of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc., for programs that 
provide research, care, and treatment for sickle cell disease; 
 At least 30 percent must be distributed to Chapman Partnership, Inc., for programs that 
provide relief from poverty, hunger, and homelessness; and 
 Up to five percent may be distributed by the DHSMV on behalf of the Dream Foundation, 
Inc., to The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc., as a royalty 
for the use of the image of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
 
Community Organizations 
Inter Miami CF 
The Inter Miami CF Foundation Corporation is an organization that uses “the game of soccer as 
a catalyst for positive change in the South Florida community.”
19
 It focuses on education, 
inclusion, and wellness for kids and young adults in underserved communities. The Inter Miami 
CF Foundation Corporation uses the soccer club’s reach, expertise, and resources to strategically 
                                                
14
 Chapter 2020-181, Laws of Fla. 
15
 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Technical Advisory: Deauthorized Collegiate Specialty License 
Plates, RS/TL21-005 (March 31, 2021), https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/bulletins/2021/RSTL21-005.pdf (last visited 
February 15, 2022). 
16
 Section 320.08056(12), F.S. See also s. 320.08058(3), F.S. 
17
 Section 320.08056(12), F.S. 
18
 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida License Plate Brochure, 
https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/specialtyplates/tagbrochure.pdf (last visited February 15, 2022). 
19
 Department of State, Sunbiz.org, Detail by Entity Name, Inter Miami CF Foundation Corp., Document No. 
P20000013003. Throughout this analysis, references to Department of State, Division of Corporations documents filed by 
entities can be found by searching at http://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/ByName (last visited 
February 11, 2022) by entity name or by document number.  BILL: CS/CS/SB 364   	Page 5 
 
plan and execute sports-based development and direct-service community programs, initiatives, 
and events.
20
 
 
Gloria M. Silverio Foundation 
The Gloria M. Silverio Foundation, Inc., is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to saving 
the lives of newborns from the dangers of abandonment and assisting pregnant girls and women 
in crisis.
21
 
 
Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research 
The Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research, Inc., is a nonprofit organization with 
approximately 20,000 members, which may be one of South Florida’s largest grassroots 
fundraising organization.
22
 Funds raised at its events benefit the Sylvester Comprehensive 
Cancer Center at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. There, physicians and 
scientists work on groundbreaking research programs to eradicate all forms of cancer.
23
 
 
Florida’s Lifted Youth 
The Florida’s Lifted Youth Inc., is a nonprofit organization that assists children of fallen heroes 
and underprivileged youth to establish a career in aviation.
24
 
 
Swimming Pool Education and Safety Foundation 
The Swimming Pool Education and Safety Foundation, Inc., also known as Florida Swims 
Foundation, is a nonprofit organization that funds swimming lessons and distributes safety 
information throughout the state.
25
 The foundation awards scholarships to college students and 
provides grants for swimming lessons. The foundation also collaborates with local organizations, 
such as the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs, to bring water safety measures and swimming 
lessons to families with young children.
26
 
 
Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism 
In 1998, the CREW Land and Water Trust and the Florida Department of Environmental 
Protection Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve received a grant from the 
                                                
20
 See Department of State, Sunbiz.org, Detail by Entity Name, Inter Miami CF Foundation Corporation, Articles of 
Incorporation. The corporation is registered with the state as a for-profit corporation, but its articles state that it is a 
nonprofit, charitable organization. The filing with the state may be incorrect.  
21
 Department of State, Sunbiz.org, Detail by Entity Name, Gloria M. Silverio Foundation, Incorporated, Document 
No. N00000008496. A Safe Haven for Newborns, Our Mission, https://asafehavenfornewborns.com/what-we-do/our-
mission/ (last visited February 11, 2022). 
22
 Department of State, Sunbiz.org, Detail by Entity Name, Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research, Inc., Document 
No. N36411. 
23
 The Pap Corps, https://www.thepapcorps.org/ (last visited January 31, 2022). 
24
 Department of State, Sunbiz.org, Detail by Entity Name, Florida’s Lifted Youth Inc., Document No. N21000003354. See 
Department of State, Sunbiz.org, Detail by Entity Name, Florida’s Lifted Youth Inc., Articles of Incorporation (filed 
March 17, 2021). 
25
 Department of State, Sunbiz.org, Detail by Entity Name, Swimming Pool Education And Safety Foundation Inc., 
Document No. N07000000242. 
26
 Florida Swimming Pool Association, SPESF, 
https://floridapoolpro.portals7.gomembers.com/About/FloridaSwimsFoundation.aspx (last visited January 31, 2022).  BILL: CS/CS/SB 364   	Page 6 
 
Advisory Council of Environmental Education within the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish 
Commission, to provide an educational workshop for ecotour providers of Southwest Florida. As 
a result of the grant, a day-long Southwest Florida Eco/Heritage Tourism Workshop took place 
in downtown Ft. Myers in which 85 people participated.
27
 
 
Following the workshop, a group of volunteers from Southwest Florida communities met and 
formed the Society for Ethical Ecotourism in Southwest Florida. In 2011 they changed their 
name to the Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism, Inc.
28
 The Florida Society for Ethical 
Ecotourism, Inc., is registered as an active nonprofit corporation with the DOS.
29
 
 
Paddle Florida 
Paddle Florida, Inc., is a nonprofit corporation organized to support canoeing and kayaking in 
Florida.
30
 The organization supports multi-day paddling/camping trips in each of Florida's five 
water management districts, showcasing the state’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage 
while promoting water conservation, wildlife preservation, springs restoration, and waterways 
protection. Paddle Florida seeks to promote Florida as an international destination for nature-
based tourism.
31
 
 
Our City Beautiful 
Our City Beautiful, Inc., is a nonprofit organization located in central Florida, organized to 
bridge the gap in affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities 
through communities of tiny homes.
32
 
 
Wildlands Conservation, Inc. 
Wildlands Conservation, Inc., is a nonprofit organization specializing in conservation planning 
and policy, land management, land protection, research, education, and outreach.
33
 
 
Florida Manufacturing and Logistics Council 
Florida Manufacturing and Logistics Council, Inc., is a nonprofit organization based in Orlando 
to promote the advancement of Florida’s manufacturing and logistics industries. The 
organization sponsors seminars and exhibitions to highlight products manufactured and 
distributed by Florida industries.
34
 
                                                
27
 Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism, History of the “Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism”, 
https://www.floridasee.com/docs/Florida%20SEE%20History.pdf (last visited January 31, 2022). 
28
 Id. 
29
 Department of State, Sunbiz.org, Detail by Entity Name, Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism, Inc., 
Document No. N01000000235. 
30
 Department of State, Sunbiz.org, Detail by Entity Name, Paddle Florida, Inc., Document No. N11000000503. 
31
 Paddle Florida, http://www.paddleflorida.org/ (last visited January 31, 2022). 
32
 Department of State, Sunbiz.org, Detail by Entity Name, Our City Beautiful, Inc., Document No. N19000002890. Our City 
Beautiful, What We Are About, https://our-city-beautiful.com/who-we-are/ (last visited January 31, 2022). 
33
 Wildland Conservation, About Us, https://wildlandsconservation.org/about-us/ (last visited February 16, 2021). Department 
of State, Sunbiz.org, Detail by Entity Name, Wildlands Conservation, Inc., Document No. N03000002778. 
34
 Department of State, Sunbiz.org, Detail by Entity Name, Florida Manufacturing and Logistics Council, Inc., Document 
No. N18000011928.  BILL: CS/CS/SB 364   	Page 7 
 
III. Effect of Proposed Changes: 
Section 1 of the bill amends s. 320.08053(2)(b), F.S., to reduce the minimum voucher sale 
requirement for all specialty license plates to 2,500, from 3,000, before manufacture of the 
license plate may commence. In addition, the bill directs the DHSMV to extend the presale 
period by an additional 24 months, from 24 months to 48 months, for an approved specialty 
license plate organization that, as of the date the bill becomes a law, is in the presale period but 
has not recorded at least 2,500 voucher sales. 
 
Section 2 of the bill amends s. 320.08056(12), F.S., to provide that independent colleges or 
universities opting to use the standard template specialty license plate will have their plate sales 
combined with the total number of remaining valid registrations for the discontinued individual 
independent college or university specialty license plates for purposes of the standard template 
specialty license plate meeting the minimum license plate sales threshold of 1,000 sales for at 
least 12 consecutive months and license plate limits in statute. 
 
The bill also requires any remaining valid registrations for a discontinued individual independent 
college or university specialty license plate to pay the applicable specialty license plate annual 
use fee for the remainder of the 10-year license plate replacement period. 
 
Existing Specialty License Plate (Section 3) 
Live the Dream Specialty License Plate 
The bill amends s. 320.08058(47), F.S., to revise the distribution and use of the annual use fees. 
The annual use fees are to be used by the Live the Dream Foundation, Inc., as follows: 
 At least 25 percent must be distributed equally among the sickle cell organizations that are 
Florida members of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc., for programs that 
provide research, care, and treatment for sickle cell disease; 
 At least 8 percent must be used for programs and services provided directly by the Dream 
Foundation, Inc., which assists inmates released from the custody of a county jail in this state 
or a Department of Corrections facility in successfully reentering the community; 
 At least 15 percent must be distributed as grants for programs and services throughout this 
state which assist inmates released from the custody of a county jail in this state or a 
Department of Corrections facility in successfully reentering the community;  
 At least 20 percent must be distributed as scholarships to graduating high school seniors in 
this state who have at least one parent or legal guardian who is incarcerated, for the purpose 
of attending a state university, a Florida College System institution, a career center operated 
by a school district, or a charter technical career center. Scholarships must be awarded 
through a competitive application process and fiscal oversight of the scholarship program 
must be performed by a certified public accounting firm;  
 At least 22 percent must be distributed to Chapman Partnership, Inc., for programs that 
provide relief from poverty, hunger, and homelessness; and 
 Up to five percent, as provided in current law, to administer, promote, and market the license 
plate; and 
 Up to five percent, as provided in current law, may be distributed by the DHSMV on behalf 
of the Dream Foundation, Inc., to The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social 
Change, Inc., as a royalty for the use of the image of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  BILL: CS/CS/SB 364   	Page 8 
 
 
New Specialty License Plates (Section 3) 
Blue Angels Motorcycle License Plate 
The bill amends s. 320.08058(79), F.S., to create a motorcycle specialty license plate option for 
the Blue Angels specialty license plate. Any DHSMV-approved image must be placed on the far 
left side of a plate for display on a motorcycle, and the number of valid plates issued for display 
on a motor vehicle or on a motorcycle must be added together to determine whether the plate 
must be discontinued based on sales. 
 
Inter Miami CF License Plate 
The bill creates the Florida Inter Miami CF specialty license plate. The license plate must bear 
the DHSMV-approved colors and design. The word “Florida” appears at the top of the plate and 
“Inter Miami CF” appears at the bottom of the plate. 
 
The annual use fees are distributed to the Inter Miami CF Foundation Corporation, to be used as 
follows: 
 Up to 10 percent to promote and market the plate; and 
 The remainder to plan and execute sports-based development and direct-service community 
programs, initiatives, and events. 
 
Currently, it appears that Florida Inter Miami CF is registered with the state as a for-profit 
corporation, but its articles state that it is a nonprofit, charitable organization. The filing with the 
state may be incorrect. 
 
Safe Haven for Newborns License Plate 
The bill creates the Safe Haven for Newborns License Plate. The specialty license plate must 
bear the DHSMV-approved colors and design. The word “Florida” appears at the top of the plate 
and “A Safe Haven for Newborns” appears at the bottom of the plate. 
 
The annual use fees are distributed to the Gloria M. Silverio Foundation, Inc., to be used as 
follows: 
 Up to 10 percent for marketing and administration of the plate; and 
 The remainder to be used by the foundation to prevent infant abandonment through 
awareness, education, and direct assistance. 
 
Pap Corps Champions for Cancer Research License Plate 
The bill creates the Pap Corps Champions for Cancer Research license plate. The specialty 
license plate must bear the DHSMV-approved colors and design. The word “Florida” appears at 
the top of the plate and “Cancer Research Matters” appears at the bottom of the plate. 
  BILL: CS/CS/SB 364   	Page 9 
 
The annual use fees are distributed to the Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research, Inc., to be 
used as follows: 
 Up to 10 percent for promotion and marketing of the plate and reimbursing the Pap Corps for 
administrative costs, startup costs, and costs incurred in the development and approval 
process of the plate; and 
 The remaining funds must be distributed with the approval of and accountability to the board 
of directors of the Pap Corps and must be used to promote and support awareness of critical 
lifesaving cancer research by the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center through education, 
outreach, and clinical research. 
 
Learn to Fly License Plate 
The bill creates the Learn to Fly license plate. The specialty license plate must bear the 
DHSMV-approved colors and design. The word “Florida” appears at the top of the plate and 
“Learn to Fly” appears at the bottom of the plate. 
 
The annual use fees are distributed to the Florida’s Lifted Youth Inc., to be used as follows: 
 Up to 10 percent to promote and market the plate; and  
 The remainder to be used by Florida’s Lifted Youth Inc., to assist underprivileged youth and 
the children of fallen heroes to establish careers in aviation. 
 
Florida Swims License Plate  
The bill creates the Florida Swims license plate. The specialty license plate must bear the 
DHSMV-approved colors and design. The word “Florida” appears at the top of the plate and 
“Swim for Life” appears at the bottom of the plate.  
 
The annual use fees are distributed to the Swimming Pool Education and Safety Foundation, 
Inc., doing business as Florida Swims, to be used as follows: 
 Up to 10 percent for administration, promotion, and marketing of the plate; and  
 The remainder to be used by the Swimming Pool Education and Safety Foundation, Inc., to 
promote swimming pool and water safety and to provide grants and scholarships for 
childhood swimming lessons in this state. 
 
Ethical Ecotourism License Plate 
The bill creates the Florida Ethical Ecotourism license plate. The specialty license plate must 
bear the DHSMV-approved colors and design. The word “Florida” appears at the top of the plate 
and “Ethical Ecotourism” appears at the bottom of the plate. 
 
The annual use fees are distributed equally between the Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism, 
Inc., and Paddle Florida, Inc., to be used as follows: 
 Up to 10 percent for administrative costs and to market the plate; and 
 The remainder: 
o By Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism, Inc., to provide environmental education and 
awareness that encourage behaviors that contribute to the sustainability of Florida’s 
natural ecosystems and resources; and  BILL: CS/CS/SB 364   	Page 10 
 
o By Paddle Florida, Inc., to raise awareness about water conservation, wildlife 
preservation, restoration of springs, and protection of waterways in this state. 
 
Down Syndrome Awareness License Plate 
The bill creates the Down Syndrome Awareness license plate. The specialty license plate must 
bear the DHSMV-approved colors and design. The word “Florida” appears at the top of the plate 
and “Down Syndrome Awareness” appears at the bottom of the plate. 
 
The annual use fees are distributed to Our City Beautiful, Inc., to be used as follows: 
 Up to 10 percent for administrative costs and marketing of the plate; 
 The remainder: 
o 50 percent to build and maintain HOLLAND, an affordable housing project for 
independent living for persons with Down syndrome or other intellectual disability; 
o 15 percent for Our City Beautiful World Changer scholarships for Florida residents 
18 years of age or older with Down syndrome who wish to further their education at 
postsecondary educational institutions located in this state; and 
o 35 percent for grants to other nonprofit organizations within this state to support housing, 
educational scholarships, and employment assistance programs for persons with Down 
syndrome or other intellectual disability. 
 
Gopher Tortoise License Plate  
The bill creates the Gopher Tortoise license plate. The specialty license plate must bear the 
DHSMV-approved colors and design. The word “Florida” appears at the top of the plate and 
“Protect the Gopher Tortoise” appears at the bottom of the plate.  
 
The annual use fees are distributed to Wildlands Conservation, Inc., to be used as follows: 
 Up to 10 percent for marketing of the plate and costs directly associated with administration 
of the gopher tortoise protection program; and  
 The remainder to be used by the Wildlands Conservation to use and distribute the funds to 
eligible Florida-based scientific, conservation, and educational organizations for gopher 
tortoise, commensal species, and upland habitat research, conservation, and management. 
 
I Make Things License Plate  
The bill creates the I Make Things license plate. The specialty license plate must bear the 
DHSMV-approved colors and design. The word “Florida” appears at the top of the plate and 
“I Make Things” appears at the bottom of the plate.  
 
The annual use fees are distributed to the Florida Manufacturing and Logistics Council, Inc., to 
be used as follows: 
 Up to 10 percent for: 
o Promotion and marketing of the plate; and  
o To reimburse the council for administrative costs, startup costs, and costs incurred in the 
development and approval process of the plate; and  
 The remainder to be used by the council, with approval of its board of directors, to promote 
and support programs that increase interest in careers in manufacturing.  BILL: CS/CS/SB 364   	Page 11 
 
 
Section 4 of the bill directs the Division of Law Revision to replace the phrase “the effective 
date of this act” wherever it occurs in the bill with the date the bill becomes a law. 
 
The bill has an effective date of upon becoming a law. 
IV. Constitutional Issues: 
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions: 
None. 
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues: 
None. 
C. Trust Funds Restrictions: 
None. 
D. State Tax or Fee Increases: 
Article VII, s. 19, of the Florida Constitution requires that a new state tax or fee, as well 
as an increased state tax or fee, must be approved by two-thirds of the membership of 
each house of the Legislature and must be contained in a separate bill that contains no 
other subject. Article VII, s. 19(d)(1), of the Florida Constitution defines “fee” to mean 
“any charge or payment required by law, including any fee for service, fee or cost for 
licenses, and charge for service.” 
 
The bill requires payment of an annual use fee for a discontinued specialty license plate 
of an independent college or university that is discontinued due to the independent 
college or university moving to the standard template specialty license plate.  
E. Other Constitutional Issues: 
None identified. 
V. Fiscal Impact Statement: 
A. Tax/Fee Issues: 
Under current law, an independent college or university that switches to the standard 
template specialty plate will have its specialty license plate discontinued. A vehicle 
owner that has a specialty license plate that is discontinued does not have to pay the 
specialty plate annual use fee for the remainder of the 10-year license plate replacement 
period. This bill requires continued payment of the annual use fee for any discontinued 
specialty license plate of an independent college or university that is discontinued due to 
the independent college or university moving to the standard template specialty license 
plate. The number of discontinued plates affected by this change is unknown at this time.  BILL: CS/CS/SB 364   	Page 12 
 
 
Related to the newly created specialty license plates, s. 320.08056(3)(d), F.S., currently 
provides that the annual use fee for a specialty license plate is $25, except as otherwise 
provided. 
B. Private Sector Impact: 
Reduction of the minimum voucher sale requirement for all specialty license plates to 
2,500, before manufacture of the license plate may commence and the extension of the 
presale period by an additional 24 months, will allow more specialty license plates to 
meet the requirements for production and avoid deauthorization as required under 
s. 320.08053(2)(b), F.S. 
 
Once a specialty license plate goes into production, organizations authorized for a 
distribution from the proceeds of the sale of the license plate will benefit. 
 
Independent colleges and universities opting to use the standard template specialty 
license plate design will have their plate sales combined with existing registrations for the 
individual institutions’ specialty license plates for purposes of meeting the minimum 
license plate sales threshold and license plate limits. This may keep the independent 
colleges and universities specialty license plates from being discontinued as required 
under s. 320.08056(8)(a), F.S. 
C. Government Sector Impact: 
The DHSMV will need to update internal procedures and instructions to organizations 
regarding specialty license plate requirements; however, there will be no programming 
costs incurred by the DHSMV.
35
 
 
Programming will be required initially to allow the DHSMV to accept vouchers, but the 
DHSMV may not finalize a design or issue the new license plate if the 150 cap is reached 
prior to the license plate selling 2,500 vouchers. The amount of programming is 
determined by the number of plates and the number of distributions per plate. 
 
The DHSMV is authorized to retain revenues from the first proceeds of specialty license 
plate sales to defray departmental expenditures related to the specialty license plate 
program.
36
 
VI. Technical Deficiencies: 
None. 
VII. Related Issues: 
None.  
                                                
35
 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 2022 Legislative Bill Analysis for SB 364, at p. 4.  
36
 Section 320.08056(7), F.S.  BILL: CS/CS/SB 364   	Page 13 
 
VIII. Statutes Affected: 
This bill substantially amends the following sections of the Florida Statutes: 320.08053, 
320.08056, and 320.08058 
IX. Additional Information: 
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Substantial Changes: 
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.) 
CS/CS by Appropriations on February 24, 2022: 
The committee substitute: 
 Creates two new plates: the Gopher Tortoise plate and the I Make Things plate; 
 Shortens the slogan for the bottom of the Paps Corps Champions for Cancer Research 
plate; 
 Allows the total plates for independent colleges and universities using the standard 
template specialty plate to be calculated using both the standard template specialty 
plate sales and any specialty license plates previously issued for the entity;  
 Requires the payment of the annual use fee for a discontinued specialty license plate 
for an independent college or university; and 
 Revises the distribution of proceeds from the sale of the Live the Dream plate. 
 
CS by Transportation on January 25, 2022: 
 Creates seven new specialty license plates; 
 Creates one new motorcycle specialty license plate; 
 Amends one existing specialty license plate; 
 Amends the voucher sale requirement for all specialty license plates; and 
 Amends how license plate sales numbers are calculated for independent colleges or 
universities opting to use the standard template specialty license plate for purposes of 
meeting the minimum license plate sales threshold of 1,000 sales for at least 
12 consecutive months and license plate limits in statute. 
B. Amendments: 
None. 
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.