72nd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2003 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 2457
 
                         Senate Bill 433
 
Sponsored by Senator DECKERT (at the request of Oregon Humane
  Society)
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Specifies surcharge amount and use for registration plate
issued under group plate program for Oregon Humane Society.
Authorizes society to suggest image and words for plate.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to registration plates; amending ORS 805.205.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 805.205 is amended to read:
  805.205. (1) The Department of Transportation by rule shall
provide for issuance of registration plates described in
subsection (3) of this section for nonprofit groups meeting the
qualifications for tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code, for institutions of higher education
and for veterans' organizations. The department shall also
provide, upon request from a veterans' group or the Director of
Veterans' Affairs, for issuance of a veterans' recognition
registration plate that may be issued only to veterans. Plates
issued under this section may be issued to owners of motor homes,
travel trailers and motor vehicles registered under the
provisions of ORS 803.420 (1). Plates issued under this section
may not contain expressions of political opinion or religious
belief.  Rules adopted under this section shall include, but need
not be limited to, rules that:
  (a) Describe general qualifications to be met by any group in
order to be eligible for plates issued under this section.
  (b) Specify circumstances under which the department may cease
to issue plates for any particular group.
  (c) Require each group for which plates are issued, other than
a group or the Director of Veterans' Affairs requesting a
veterans' recognition plate, to file an annual statement on a
form designed by the department showing that the group is a
nonprofit group or an institution of higher education and
otherwise meets the qualifications imposed for eligibility for
plates issued under this section. The statement shall include
names and addresses of current directors or officers of the group
or of other persons authorized to speak for the group or
institution on matters affecting plates issued under this
section.
  (d) Require proof of veteran status for issuance of a veterans'
recognition plate and specify what constitutes proof.
  (2)(a) Except as otherwise provided in   { - paragraph (b)
of - } this subsection, in addition to any other fee authorized
by law, upon issuance of a plate under this section and upon
renewal of registration for a vehicle that has plates issued
under this section, the department shall collect a surcharge of
$2.50 per plate for each year of the registration period.
  (b) In addition to any other fee authorized by law, upon
issuance of a plate under this section that recognizes an
institution of higher education in this state, and upon renewal
of registration for a vehicle that has such plates, the
department shall collect a surcharge of $8 per plate for each
year of the registration period.
   { +  (c) In addition to any other fee authorized by law, upon
issuance of a plate under this section that recognizes the Oregon
Humane Society, and upon renewal of registration for a vehicle
that has such plates, the department shall collect a surcharge of
$8 per plate for each year of the registration period. + }
  (3) Plates issued under this section shall be from the current
regular issue of plates except that:
  (a) In consultation with the group or the Director of Veterans'
Affairs requesting the plates, the department shall add words to
the plate that name or describe the group or veterans recognized.
  (b) If the group or the Director of Veterans' Affairs
requesting the plates represents persons who have been awarded
the Purple Heart medal, the plates shall contain an image of the
medal.
  (c) If the group requesting the plates is an institution of
higher education, the plates shall, upon request, contain words
that indicate the plates are issued to recognize the institution
or shall contain the institution's logo or an image of the
institution's mascot.
   { +  (d) If the group requesting the plates is the Oregon
Humane Society, the plates shall, upon request, contain an image
and words submitted by the Oregon Humane Society and approved by
the Department of Transportation. + }
  (4)(a) Except as otherwise required by the design chosen, the
plates shall comply with the requirements of ORS 803.535. At
least 50 sets of plates shall be manufactured for each group
approved under this section or for the Director of Veterans'
Affairs. If the department does not sell or issue renewal for 50
sets of plates for a particular group or for the Director of
Veterans' Affairs in any one year, the department shall cease
production of those plates.
  (b) Notwithstanding ORS 803.530, upon transfer of a vehicle for
which veterans' recognition plates have been issued under this
section, if the person to whom the plates were issued does not
transfer the plates to another vehicle, the plates shall be
returned to the department.
  (5) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (6) of this
section, each group that is found by the department to be
eligible for plates issued under this section may designate an
account into which the net proceeds of the surcharge collected by
the department under subsection (2) of this section are to be
deposited. The department shall keep accurate records of the
number of plates issued for each group that qualifies. After
payment of administrative expenses of the department, moneys
collected under this section for each group shall be deposited by
the department into an account specified by that group. If any
group does not specify an account for the moneys collected from
the sale of plates issued under this section, the department
shall deposit moneys collected for those plates into the
Environmental Quality Information Account established under ORS
802.100 to be used as other moneys in the account are used.
Deposits under this subsection shall be made at least quarterly.
  (6)(a) Each institution of higher education that requests a
plate under this section shall designate an account in the
general fund of the institution, and the proceeds in the account
shall be used for the purpose of academic enrichment at the
institution.
  (b) Net proceeds of the surcharge collected by the department
for the veterans' recognition plate shall be deposited in the
trust fund established under ORS 406.050 for paying the expenses
of operating the Oregon Veterans' Home. Deposits under this
paragraph shall be made at least quarterly.
   { +  (c) Net proceeds of the surcharge collected by the
department for the Oregon Humane Society plate shall be
transferred to an account designated by the Oregon Humane Society
to be used for the society's spay and neuter assistance
program. + }
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