PROSTATE CANC. AWARE. FUND-RAISING PLATE H.B. 5334:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 5334 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Roger Hauck
House Committee: Transportation
Senate Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
CONTENT
The bill would add Section 811hh to the Michigan Vehicle Code to do the following:
-- Require the Secretary of State (SOS) to develop a fund-raising plate recognizing prostate cancer awareness.
-- Create the "Prostate Cancer Awareness Fund" within the State Treasury and require the money from the sale of the plates to be deposited into the Fund.
-- Require the State Treasurer to disburse money in the Fund on a quarterly basis to the Prostate Cancer Understanding Prevention Screenings (P.C.U.P.S.) Foundation.
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
Specifically, the bill would require the SOS to develop under Section 811e and issue under Section 811f a fund-raising plate or collector plate recognizing prostate cancer awareness. The SOS would have to design the fund-raising plate in conjunction with the P.C.U.P.S Foundation.
(Section 811e of the Code prescribes a start-up fee for any new fund-raising plate in an amount equal to a three-year average of the cost to the SOS of developing a new plate, as calculated by the SOS on January 1 of each year, and requires the fee to be deposited in the Transportation Administration Collection Fund to be used for the cost of creating, producing, and issuing fund-raising plates. If the fee is not paid within 18 months after the effective date of the public act that authorizes the development and issuance of a fund-raising plate, the SOS may not create, produce, or issue the related plate. The SOS may not develop or issue a fund-raising plate unless a public act authorizing the plate identifies its purpose; creates a nonprofit fund or designates an existing nonprofit fund to receive the money raised through the sale of the plates and matching collector plates; and, if a fund is created, names the person or entity responsible for administering it.
Section 811f authorizes the SOS to issue a fund-raising plate instead of a standard registration plate upon application, which must be accompanied by a $25 fund-raising donation, payment of the regular vehicle registration tax prescribed in the Code, and a $10 service fee.
Section 811g allows the SOS to develop, market, promote, and sell a collector plate. The SOS may do so only with funds available from the collection of service fees under the Code.)
The bill also would create the Prostate Cancer Awareness Fund within the State Treasury. The State Treasurer could receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the Fund. The State Treasurer would have to direct the investment of the Fund and credit to it interest and earnings from Fund investments. Money in the Fund at the close of the fiscal year would have to remain in the Fund and could not lapse to the General Fund. The State Treasurer would be the administrator of the Prostate Cancer Awareness Fund for auditing purposes.
The SOS would have to transfer the donation money from the sale of fund-raising plates recognizing prostate cancer awareness to the State Treasurer, who would have to credit the donation money to the Fund. The State Treasurer would have to disburse money in the Fund on a quarterly basis to the P.C.U.P.S. Foundation.
BACKGROUND
The prostate is a gland in males that produces the fluid that sustains and transports sperm. Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs within the prostate. According to the Mayo Clinic, prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Prostate cancer is treated most successfully when it is detected early, usually when it remains confined to the prostate gland.
According to its website, the P.C.U.P.C Foundation is a charitable organization "dedicated to promoting men's health and wellness through early detection screening and knowledge of symptoms, treatments, and care". The Foundation started in March 2012 and has since raised over $80,000 and paid for over 1,000 prostate cancer screenings.
Legislative Analyst: Tyler P. VanHuyse
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would result in start-up costs for the Department of State; however, the start-up fee prescribed in the Code (currently estimated at $90,000) would have to be paid to the Department of State from the proposed Prostate Cancer Awareness Fund. The revenue generated from the fund-raising license plate would be deposited into the Fund, after which, the State Treasurer would disburse payments from the Fund on a quarterly basis to the P.C.U.P.S. Foundation.
The bill would have no fiscal impact on local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco, Jr.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.