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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE BILL NO. 373
BY REPRESENTATIVE FRANKLIN
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
MTR VEHICLE/LICEN PLATES: Creates the Free and Accepted Mason prestige plate
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 47:463.160, relative to motor vehicle special prestige plates; to provide for the2
Free and Accepted Mason license plate; to provide for the creation, issuance, and3
design of such license plates; to provide relative to the fee and distribution of fees4
for such plates; to authorize the promulgation of rules and regulations relative to the5
creation and implementation of a special prestige license; to provide for qualified6
applicants; and to provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 47:463.160 is hereby enacted to read as follows:9
ยง463.160. Special prestige license plates; "Free and Accepted Mason"10
A. The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall11
establish a special prestige motor vehicle license plate to be known as the "Free and12
Accepted Mason" plate, provided there is a minimum of one thousand applicants for13
such plate. These license plates shall be restricted to use on passenger cars, pickup14
trucks, recreational vehicles, and vans.15
B. The color and design of the license plate shall be selected by the Free and16
Accepted Mason Ionic Lodge in this state and shall include the organization's logo17
and the words "Free and Accepted Mason".18
C. The prestige license plate shall be issued, upon application, to any19
member of a Free and Accepted Mason Ionic Lodge in this state in the same manner20 HLS 13RS-811 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 373
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as any motor vehicle license plate in this state. Each applicant shall present to the1
office of motor vehicles a membership identification card indicating such Free and2
Accepted Ionic Lodge membership.3
D. The department shall collect an annual royalty fee of twenty-five dollars,4
which shall be disbursed in accordance with Subsection E of this Section. This fee5
shall be in addition to the standard motor vehicle license tax imposed by Article VII,6
Section 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana, and a handling fee of three dollars and7
fifty cents for each plate to be retained by the department to offset a portion of8
administrative costs.9
E. The annual royalty fee collected by the department shall be forwarded to10
the Free and Accepted Mason Ionic Lodge Number 26 of Lake Charles to be used11
solely for philanthropic endeavors as the lodge sees fit.12
F. The secretary shall establish rules and regulations as necessary to13
implement the provisions of this Section, including but not limited to rules and14
regulations governing the collection and disbursement of annual fees, verification of15
applicant membership, the transfer and disposition of such license plate, and required16
design criteria.17
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Franklin HB No. 373
Abstract: Creates a special prestige license plate for the Free and Accepted Masons.
Provides for the fees, distribution of fees, issuance, creation, and design of the
license plate and promulgation of rules.
Proposed law requires the secretary of the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections to establish
a special prestige motor vehicle license plate to be known as the "Free and Accepted Mason"
plate, provided there is a minimum of 1,000 applicants for such plate. This license plate will
be restricted to passenger cars, pickup trucks, recreational vehicles, and vans.
Proposed law specifies that the color and design of the plate will be selected by the Free and
Accepted Mason Ionic Lodge Number 26.
Proposed law provides that the prestige license plate shall be issued, upon application, to any
member of the Free and Accepted Masons, upon verification of valid organization
membership, in the same manner as any other motor vehicle license plate. HLS 13RS-811 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 373
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Proposed law establishes a royalty fee of $25 for the "Free and Accepted Mason" license
plate, authorizes a handling fee of $3.50 to be retained by the department, and specifies that
the recipient of the royalty fees shall be the Free and Accepted Mason Ionic Lodge Number
26 of Lake Charles, La.
Proposed law requires the secretary to adopt rules and regulations to implement the
provisions provided in proposed law.
(Adds R.S. 47:463.160)