June 7, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Caswell, Moore, Stahl, Green, Horn, Nitz, Hansen, Nofs and Dean and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled
"Michigan vehicle code,"
by amending section 803m (MCL 257.803m), as amended by 2003 PA 152.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 803m. (1) The secretary of state may issue 2 special
organization motor vehicle registration plates to an applicant for
use on a passenger motor vehicle, pickup truck, van, motorcycle, or
motor home for which the plates are issued instead of standard
plates. A special organization motor vehicle registration plate is
a registration plate issued by the secretary of state that bears on
its face the symbol or emblem of an organization.
(2) Special organization registration plates shall bear
letters and numbers as the secretary of state prescribes. Special
organization registration plates may contain the symbol of the
organization to the left of the plate number. The secretary of
state shall not issue a letter combination or permit the use of a
symbol
which that might carry a connotation offensive to good taste
and decency. The special organization registration plates shall be
made of the same material as standard registration plates. Special
organization registration plates shall not be a duplication of
another registration plate.
(3) In order to qualify its members to receive special
organization registration plates, an organization shall meet all of
the following criteria:
(a) Be a nonprofit fraternal or public service organization.
(b) Certify that it consists of not less than 500 members and
that not less than 500 members will apply for special organization
registration plates.
(c) Have a recognizable state, national, or international
symbol or emblem of the organization.
(d) Submit a service fee of $500.00 for the initial
manufacture of the symbols or emblems for the special organization
registration plates.
(e) Not practice or influence others to practice any form of
discrimination prohibited by the Elliott-Larsen civil rights act,
1976 PA 453, MCL 37.2101 to 37.2804.
(4) If an organization meets the criteria set forth in
subsection (3), the organization may request the secretary of state
to manufacture special organization registration plates for its
members. A request shall be accompanied by all of the following:
(a) A copy of the organization's charter and bylaws, if any.
(b) A statement of the organization's consent to use of the
organization's symbol or emblem on special organization
registration plates. The statement shall be signed by the president
or chief executive officer of the organization.
(c) A sample of the organization's symbol or emblem.
(d) The name of the organization's representative who will
serve as a contact person with the secretary of state.
(5)
A member of an organization which that has met the
criteria
set forth in subsection (3) shall individually make
application
apply for a special organization registration plate and
submit with the application the organization's confirmation of
membership on a form provided by the secretary of state.
(6) An application for a special organization registration
plate
shall be submitted to the secretary of state pursuant
according to the procedures prescribed in section 217. In addition
to the regular registration fee, each application for a new special
organization registration plate shall be accompanied by a service
fee of $25.00. The service fee prescribed in this subsection shall
not be charged in connection with an application for a renewal tab
for an existing special organization registration plate. A special
organization
registration plate shall expire expires
as provided in
section 226.
(7) The secretary of state may issue a temporary registration
permit to a person who submits an application and the proper fees
for a special organization plate, if the applicant's current
vehicle
registration will expire before his or her receipt of an a
special organization registration plate. The temporary registration
shall
expire expires upon the applicant's receipt of an a special
organization registration plate or upon the expiration of 60 days
after the date of issuance, whichever occurs first. A temporary
permit issued under this subsection shall be issued without charge.
(8)
This section shall apply to an organization described in
section
811c only to the extent provided by section 811c.