Chapter 667 Oregon Laws 2007

 

AN ACT

 

HB 2982

 

Relating to registration fees; creating new provisions; amending ORS 366.157, 802.100, 802.110, 805.205 and 805.250; and declaring an emergency.

 

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

 

          SECTION 1. ORS 802.100 is amended to read:

          802.100. The following accounts are established separate and distinct from the General Fund for the financial administration of those functions of the Department of Transportation dealing with driver and motor vehicle services in accordance with ORS 802.110:

          (1) The Department of Transportation Driver and Motor Vehicle Suspense Account. The account established under this subsection is a suspense account in the State Treasury that is used to deposit moneys received by the department related to driver and motor vehicle services and to make approved payments and disbursals of funds before the department pays administrative expenses related to the provision of driver and motor vehicle services. The department shall transfer the money that is not to be used to make approved payments and disbursals from the account established under this subsection and that remains in the account at the close of business on the last day of each month to the Department of Transportation Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Administrative Account on or before the 15th day of the following month.

          (2) The Department of Transportation Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Administrative Account. The account established under this subsection shall be used for the payment of administrative expenses payable before money from the account is transferred to the State Highway Fund. The department shall transfer the money that is not to be used to make payments from the account established under this subsection and that remains in the account at the close of business on the last day of each month to the State Highway Fund on or before the 15th day of the following month.

          (3) [Environmental Quality Information Account.] The Passenger Rail Transportation Account. The account established under this subsection is a separate account in the State Treasury that shall be used to deposit moneys received from the sale of customized registration plates under ORS 805.240. Moneys in the account shall be used for [programs under ORS 366.157] passenger rail programs. Moneys shall be deposited in the account after payment of administrative expenses as provided under ORS 802.110.

          (4) The Revolving Account for Emergency Cash Advances. The account established under this subsection is a separate account that shall be maintained for the payment of emergency cash advances and taking up of dishonored remittances.

 

          SECTION 2. ORS 802.110 is amended to read:

          802.110. Any procedures the Department of Transportation establishes for financial administration of those functions of the department dealing with driver and motor vehicle services and for the disposition and payment of moneys it receives from the provision of driver and motor vehicle services shall comply with all of the following:

          (1) The department shall deposit all moneys it receives related to driver and motor vehicle services in the Department of Transportation Driver and Motor Vehicle Suspense Account for approved expenses and disbursals before payment of general administrative expenses of the department related to the provision of driver and motor vehicle services. Notwithstanding this subsection, the department may return a bank check or money order when received in incorrect or incomplete form or when not accompanied by the proper application.

          (2) The department shall pay the following approved expenses and disbursals from the Department of Transportation Driver and Motor Vehicle Suspense Account before payment of the general administrative expenses of the department related to driver and motor vehicle services:

          (a) Refunds authorized by any statute administered by the department when such refunds are approved by the department.

          (b) Amounts transferred to the State Treasurer under ORS 319.410 (2) for the purpose of carrying out the state aviation laws, amounts transferred to the Boating Safety, Law Enforcement and Facility Account by ORS 319.415, amounts transferred to the State Aviation Account by ORS 319.417 and amounts transferred to the Department of Transportation Operating Fund by ORS 184.643.

          (c) After deduction of expenses of collection, transfer and administration, the department shall pay moneys collected from the Student Driver Training Fund eligibility fee under ORS 807.040, 807.150 and 807.370 to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Student Driver Training Fund. The moneys deposited in the Student Driver Training Fund under this paragraph are continuously appropriated to the department for the following purposes:

          (A) To the extent of not more than 10 percent of the amount transferred into the Student Driver Training Fund in any biennium, to pay the expenses of administering ORS 336.795, 336.800, 336.805, 336.810 (2) and 336.815.

          (B) The remaining moneys, for reimbursing school districts as provided under ORS 336.805.

          (d) After deduction of expenses of collection, transfer and administration, the department shall pay moneys collected for the Motorcycle Safety Subaccount under ORS 807.170 to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Motorcycle Safety Subaccount of the Transportation Safety Account. Moneys paid to the State Treasurer under this paragraph shall be used for the purpose of ORS 802.320.

          (e) After deduction of expenses for the administration of the issuance of customized registration plates under ORS 805.240, the department shall place moneys received from the sale of customized registration plates in the [Environmental Quality Information Account] Passenger Rail Transportation Account. The moneys placed in the account are continuously appropriated to the department and shall be used for the payment of expenses [heretofore and hereafter] incurred in administering [programs established under ORS 366.157] passenger rail programs.

          (f) After deduction of expenses of collection, transfer and administration, the department shall pay moneys from any registration fees established by the governing bodies of counties or a district, as defined in ORS 801.237, under ORS 801.041 or 801.042 to the appropriate counties or districts. The department shall make the payments on at least a monthly basis unless another basis is established by the intergovernmental agreements required by ORS 801.041 and 801.042 between the department and the governing bodies of a county or a district.

          (g) After deducting the expenses of the department in collecting and transferring the moneys, the department shall make disbursals and payments of moneys collected for or dedicated to any other purpose or fund except the State Highway Fund, including but not limited to, payments to the Department of Transportation Operating Fund established by ORS 184.642 (1) and (2).

          (3) The department shall refund from the Department of Transportation Driver and Motor Vehicle Suspense Account any excess or erroneous payment to a person who made the payment or to the person’s legal representative when the department determines that money has been received by it in excess of the amount legally due and payable or that it has received money in which it has no legal interest. Refunds payable under this subsection are continuously appropriated for such purposes in the manner for payment of refunds under this section. If the department determines that a refund is due, the department may refund the amount of excess or erroneous payment without a claim being filed. Except as provided in ORS 319.290, 319.375, 319.820 and 319.831, any claim for a refund from the department must be filed within 12 months after the date payment is received by the department.

          (4) After payment of those expenses and disbursals approved for payment before general administrative expenses related to the provision of driver and motor vehicle services, the department shall pay from the Department of Transportation Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Administrative Account its general administrative expenses incurred in the administration of any law related to driver and motor vehicle services that the department is charged with administering and any other expenses the department is permitted by law to pay from moneys held by the department before transfer of the moneys to the State Highway Fund. The following limitations apply to payments of administrative expenses under this subsection:

          (a) The department shall make payment of the expenses of administering the issuance of winter recreation parking permits under ORS 811.595 from those moneys received from issuing the permits or from moneys received under ORS 153.630 from violation of the requirement to have the permit.

          (b) The department shall pay its expenses for administering the registration and titling of snowmobiles under ORS 821.060 and 821.100 from the fees collected from administering those sections. The department shall also pay its expenses for the administration of the snowmobile driver permit program under ORS 821.160 from the moneys otherwise described in this paragraph.

          (c) The department shall pay its expenses for determining the amount of money to be withheld under ORS 802.120 from the fees collected for administering the registration and titling of snowmobiles. The amount used to pay expenses under this paragraph shall be such sum as necessary but shall not exceed $10,000 during each biennium.

          (d) The department shall retain not more than $15,000 in any biennium for the expenses of collecting and transferring moneys to the Student Driver Training Fund under this section and for the administration of ORS 336.810 (3).

          (5) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the department shall transfer to the State Highway Fund the moneys not used for payment of the general administrative expenses or for approved expenses and disbursals before payment of general administrative expenses. The following apply to this subsection:

          (a) If the Director of Transportation certifies the amount of principal or interest of highway bonds due on any particular date, the department may make available for the payment of such interest or principal any sums that may be necessary to the extent of moneys on hand available for the State Highway Fund regardless of the dates otherwise specified under this section.

          (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection the department shall not make available for purposes described in paragraph (a) of this subsection any moneys described in ORS 367.605 when there are not sufficient amounts of such moneys in the State Highway Fund for purposes of bonds issued under ORS 367.615.

          (6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the following moneys shall be transferred to the State Highway Fund at the times described:

          (a) Moneys received under ORS 802.120 and not used for the payment of administrative expenses of the department shall be transferred before July 31 of each year.

          (b) Moneys received from the registration of snowmobiles that is not to be used for payment of administrative expenses of the department shall be transferred within 30 days after the end of the quarter.

          (c) Moneys received from the issuance of winter recreation parking permits or under ORS 153.630 from violation of the requirement to have a winter recreation parking permit and that is not used for payment of administrative expenses of the department shall be transferred within 30 days after the end of the quarter.

          (7) The following moneys transferred to the State Highway Fund under this section may be used only for the purposes described as follows:

          (a) Moneys collected from the issuance of winter recreation parking permits or under ORS 153.630 for violation of the requirement to have a winter recreation parking permit, and the interest on such moneys, shall be used to enforce the requirement for winter recreation parking permits and to remove snow from winter recreation parking locations designated under ORS 810.170. Any remaining moneys shall, upon approval by the Winter Recreation Advisory Committee:

          (A) Be used to maintain parking locations developed with moneys obtained under ORS 810.170 and snowmobile facilities that are parking lots developed with moneys as provided under this section;

          (B) Be used to develop additional winter recreation parking locations under ORS 810.170; or

          (C) Be carried over to be used in subsequent years for the purposes and in the manner described in this paragraph.

          (b) Moneys received from the registration of snowmobiles or under ORS 802.120 shall be used for the development and maintenance of snowmobile facilities, including the acquisition of land therefor by any means other than the exercise of eminent domain. Moneys received under ORS 802.120 may also be used for the enforcement of ORS 811.590, 821.100 to 821.120, 821.140, 821.150, 821.190, 821.210 and 821.240 to 821.290.

          (8) The department shall maintain the Revolving Account for Emergency Cash Advances separate from other moneys described in this section. From the account, the department may pay for the taking up of dishonored remittances returned by banks or the State Treasurer and for emergency cash advances to be subsequently reimbursed. The account shall be used only as a revolving fund. The department shall at all times be accountable for the amount of the account, either in cash or unreimbursed items and advances. The moneys in the account are continuously appropriated for the purposes of this subsection. The amount of the account under this subsection shall not exceed $40,000 from moneys received by the department in the performance of its driver and motor vehicle services functions and moneys otherwise appropriated for purposes of this subsection. The account under this subsection shall be kept on deposit with the State Treasurer. The State Treasurer is authorized to honor and pay all properly signed and indorsed checks or warrants drawn against the account.

 

          SECTION 3. 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 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.

          (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.

          (4) Except as otherwise required by the design chosen, the plates shall comply with the requirements of ORS 803.535. The department shall determine how many 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 500 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.

          (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] Passenger Rail Transportation 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.

 

          SECTION 4. ORS 805.250 is amended to read:

          805.250. This section establishes fees for issuance of registration plates authorized under ORS 805.200. If a fee for plates authorized in ORS 805.200 is not established in this section, the fee is the same fee as established under ORS 803.570. Where a fee is established under this section, the fee is in addition to the fee established under ORS 803.570 unless otherwise provided in the following:

          (1) Amateur radio operator registration plates issued under ORS 805.230, $5.

          (2) Customized registration plates issued under ORS 805.240:

          (a) For original issuance or renewal, $25 annual fee.

          (b) For issuance of a duplicate or replacement plate, $5 when the plate is issued at the time of renewal of registration or $10 when the plate is issued at any other time.

          (3) Special interest registration plates approved under ORS 805.210 are approved without cost except as provided in this subsection, including without payment of the fee established under ORS 803.570. If identifying stickers are required, $1 per sticker or pair of stickers.

          (4) Dealer plates issued under ORS 822.020 and 822.040 are as follows:

          (a) For the original dealer plate, no fee except the fee established under ORS 803.570.

          (b) For replacement dealer plates, $10 for each plate except that persons dealing exclusively in motorcycles, mopeds, snowmobiles or any combination of those vehicles shall pay only $3 for each replacement plate.

          (c) For additional plates, or for renewal of registration, $42, except that persons dealing exclusively in motorcycles, mopeds or snowmobiles or any combination of those vehicles shall pay only $9 for each additional plate, or for renewal of registration.

          (5) Special vehicle transporter plates or devices issued under ORS 822.310, $5 for each plate or device.

 

          SECTION 5. ORS 366.157 is amended to read:

          366.157. The Department of Transportation shall administer a program for the employment of youth in the prevention and cleanup of litter and vandalism. [aimed toward prevention of vandalism and prevention and cleanup of litter. The program may include public informational activities, but shall be directed primarily toward encouraging and facilitating involvement of youth in prevention of vandalism and litter and in litter cleanup work. Moneys for the program are provided from the Environmental Quality Information Account described under ORS 802.100.]

 

          SECTION 6. On the effective date of this 2007 Act:

          (1) The Department of Transportation shall transfer any unexpended balance in the Environmental Quality Information Account to the Passenger Rail Transportation Account.

          (2) The Environmental Quality Information Account is abolished.

 

          SECTION 7. This 2007 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2007 Act takes effect July 1, 2007.

 

Approved by the Governor June 27, 2007

 

Filed in the office of Secretary of State June 27, 2007

 

Effective date July 1, 2007

__________