ELIMINATE FEE FOR SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES

House Bill 4680 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Jewell Jones

House Bill 4681 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Joe Tate

House Bill 4682 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Terry J. Sabo

House Bill 4683 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Gary Howell

House Bill 4684 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Hank Vaupel

Committee:  Military, Veterans and Homeland Security

Complete to 11-5-19

SUMMARY:

Taken together, House Bills 4680 through 4684 would amend various sections of the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow certain service members of the United States Armed Forces to apply for or renew a special registration plate without being required to pay a service fee for the plate.

Currently under the Code, application for a special registration plate denoting military service must be made on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State and be accompanied by any proof that the applicant is eligible for the plate as the Secretary of State may require. A $5 service fee is required when applying for a special registration plate or when the Secretary of State issues new plates for a special registration plate renewal.

The bills would eliminate the service fee described above. They would apply to the following special registration plates under the following sections of the Vehicle Code:

·         House Bill 4680: for a person who was or is a member of any branch of the armed services, the National Guard, or the military reserve (section 803i).

·         House Bill 4681: for a person who was a prisoner of war or whose spouse was a prison of war; who is a World War I veteran; who as a member of the armed services survived the attack on Pearl Harbor; or who is a recipient of the Purple Heart medal (section 803e) or for a person who is a totally disabled veteran with an honorable discharge from the armed services (section 803f).

·         House Bill 4682: for a person who was a member or whose spouse was a member of the armed services, the National Guard, or the military reserve during the Persian Gulf War or the conflict in Panama, Grenada, or Lebanon (section 803n).

·         House Bill 4683: for a person who was a member or whose spouse was a member of the armed services during the Korean War (section 803j).

·         House Bill 4684: for a person who was a member or whose spouse was a member of the armed services during the Vietnam War (section 803k).

The bills are tie-barred to each other, and to Senate Bills 354, 355, and 356, which means that none of these bills could take effect unless all were enacted.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bills would decrease state restricted fee revenue to the Department of State by approximately $130,000 annually. The amount of forgone revenue would likely decrease incrementally as the veteran population in Michigan gradually diminishes. All fees eliminated by the bill are currently deposited into the Transportation Administration Collection Fund (TACF) to support various needs of the Secretary of State for administering vehicle registrations.

                                                                                         Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                 Fiscal Analyst:   Michael Cnossen

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.