BILL NUMBER: SB 1282	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Knight

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to amend Section 5157 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1282, as introduced, Knight. Gold Star Family specialized
license plate program.
   Existing law authorizes the issuance of specialized license plates
sponsored by a state agency, including the Gold Star Family
specialized license plate sponsored by the Department of Veterans
Affairs. Existing law generally authorizes specialized license plates
to be issued as environmental license plates, with a combination of
letters or numbers, or both, requested by the owner of the vehicle.
Under existing law, however, Gold Star Family license plates may only
be issued in a sequential series.
   This bill would delete the requirement that Gold Star Family
license plates be issued only in a sequential series, thereby
authorizing the issuance of these license plates as environmental
license plates.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
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) 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  .
   (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.