Bill Text: CA AB498 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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

---

Bill Title: Vehicles: special interest license plates and decals:

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-09-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 345, Statutes of 2010. [AB498 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB498-Amended.html

---

BILL NUMBER: AB 498	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 1, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 25, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 4, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 22, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 16, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hayashi
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Lieu)

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2009

   An act to amend Section 5068 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 498, as amended, Hayashi.  Vehicles: special interest license
plates and decals.
    Existing law authorizes private organizations, including veterans'
organizations, to participate in special interest license plate
programs in which the Department of Motor Vehicles issues license
plates with a participating organization's distinctive design or
decal, and specifies the various fees concerning the issuance,
renewal  of  , registration  of  ,
and replacement of damaged or unserviceable plates and decals.
Existing law permits  any individual to apply for a veterans'
organization special interest license plate and decal  
an eligible person who is a former American prisoner of war to apply
for special license plates for his or   her vehicle and
generally exempts that vehicle from registration and vehicle license
fees (VLF)  .
   This bill would authorize a former American prisoner of war (POW)
who is otherwise eligible for a special license plate as a former POW
to apply for a veterans' organization special interest license plate
and decal, would exempt that former POW from the payment of 
specified  fees under these provisions, and would authorize the
surviving spouse of that former POW to retain the special interest
license plate and decal subject to specified conditions.  The
bill would also extend the exemption from the payment of those fees
until the death of the surviving spouse. 
   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 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.
   (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) for the initial issuance of the plates
and decals. The plates shall be permanent and may not be required to
be replaced.
   (2) Thirty dollars ($30) 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) for the personalization of the plates, as
authorized under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).
   (c) A former American prisoner of war who is otherwise eligible
for a special license plate pursuant to Section 5101.5 may apply for
a veterans' organization special interest license plate and decal in
lieu of the special license plate issued pursuant to Section 5101.5
and shall be exempt from the payment of fees  pursuant to
subdivision (a) of Section 9105, the fees  required under
subdivision (b)  ,   and the license fee pursuant to
subdivision (a) of Section 10783 of the Revenue and Taxation Code
 . The surviving spouse of the former American prisoner of war
may retain the special interest license plate and decal issued under
this section and is subject to the conditions set forth in Section
5101.5.  The exemptions from fees provided in this subdivision
shall extend until the death of the surviving spouse.