Bill Text: CA AB1658 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Vehicles: specialized license plates.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2012-09-28 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 720, Statutes of 2012. [AB1658 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB1658-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 1658	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 28, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 18, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 11, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gatto
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Jeffries)

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2012

   An act to add Section 5004.3 to the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1658, as amended, Gatto. Vehicles: specialized license plates.
    Under existing law, the Department of Motor Vehicles issues
environmental and other specialized license plates. The issuance of
some of those license plates is subject to additional fees.
   This bill would require the department to establish the California
Legacy License Plate Program, and to create and issue a series of
specialized license plates that replicate plates from the state's
past, if  at least  7,500 applications for  any one
particular plate   the plates  are received and
held by the department, on or before January 1, 2015. The bill would
require that, upon determination by the department that there are
sufficient funds for the program, moneys be available, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to the department for the necessary
administrative costs of establishing the program and, as to any
remaining moneys, for deposit into the California Environmental
License Plate Fund for appropriation by the Legislature pursuant to
existing law.
   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 5004.3 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
   5004.3.  (a) Subject to subdivision (c), the department shall
establish the California Legacy License Plate Program and create and
issue a series of specialized license plates known as California
Legacy License Plates that replicate the look of California license
plates from the state's past. The design of the plates shall be
identical, to the extent the department determines it to be
reasonably feasible under current manufacturing processes, to a
regular license plate, except as provided in subdivision (b).
   (b) The California Legacy License Plates shall consist of one or
more of the following designs:
   (1) Yellow background with black lettering per the appearance of
California license plates issued by the department from 1956 to 1962,
inclusive.
   (2) Black background with yellow lettering per the appearance of
California license plates issued by the department from 1965 to 1968,
inclusive.
   (3) Blue background with yellow lettering per the appearance of
California license plates issued by the department from 1969 to 1986,
inclusive.
   (c) 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) Fifty dollars ($50) for the original issuance of the plates.
   (2) Forty dollars ($40) for a renewal of registration with the
plates.
   (3) Fifteen dollars ($15) for transfer of the plates to another
vehicle.
   (4) Thirty-five dollars ($35) for each substitute replacement
plate.
   (d) The department shall not issue California Legacy License
Plates for a vehicle that is exempt from the payment of registration
fees pursuant to Section 9101 or 9103.
   (e) (1) The department shall not establish the California Legacy
License Plate Program until the department has received not less than
7,500 paid applications for plates. The department shall collect and
hold applications for the plates. The department shall not issue a
specialized license plate until it has received not less than 7,500
paid applications for  any one of  the particular plates
within the time period prescribed in this section.
   (2) The department shall have until January 1, 2015, to receive
the required number of applications. If, after that date, 7,500 paid
applications have not been received  for any one of the three
plates described in subdivision (b)  , the department shall
immediately refund to all applicants all fees or deposits that have
been collected.
   (f) (1) Upon determination by the department that there are
sufficient funds for the program, moneys shall be available, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to the department for the necessary
administrative costs of establishing the California Legacy License
Plate Program.
   (2) After deducting its administrative costs under this
subdivision, the department shall deposit any additional revenue
derived from the issuance, renewal, transfer, and substitution of the
specialized license plates into the California Environmental License
Plate Fund, for appropriation by the Legislature pursuant to
existing law.