Chapter 823 Oregon Laws 2009

AN ACT

SB 961

Relating to vehicles.

          Whereas Oregon has been a pacific wonderland from its earliest days of inhabitation by native tribes, through the early explorations of George Vancouver, James Cook, William Clark, Meriwether Lewis, Jedediah Smith, Thomas Condon and others, up to and including the establishment and flourishing of the State of Oregon itself; and

          Whereas the colorful history of Oregon’s tribal occupation, exploration, geography, geology and economy deserves to be known by the state’s citizenry; and

          Whereas understanding the influence of technological innovation, the role of beliefs in shaping family life, the genius and folly of early transportation, settlement, labor, industry, agriculture, fishing, mining and immigration are critical to the understanding of our present ways of life; and

          Whereas Oregon’s mountains, valleys, deserts, rivers and ocean shores are priceless assets; and

          Whereas efforts to describe, illustrate and appreciate the work and sacrifices of our Oregon ancestors are key to preserving state resources and ensuring prosperity and the pursuit of happiness for future generations of Oregonians; and

          Whereas “Pacific Wonderland” registration plates, issued during the centennial year of 1959 and continuing to 1964, are a unique part of Oregon history; and

          Whereas thousands of Oregon schoolchildren, adults, and visitors come to the State Capitol in Salem each year to learn about Oregon and its government, making the State Capitol one of Oregon’s premier educational resources; and

          Whereas the addition of an Oregon History Center within the State Capitol building or in a structure on the grounds of the State Capitol State Park would be a significant benefit to good citizenship, ensuring wisdom in future decision-making by Oregon’s citizenry and its government; and

          Whereas the Legislative Assembly should recreate a limited edition of Oregon’s historic Pacific Wonderland registration plate in this sesquicentennial year, with proceeds to be devoted to the purpose of establishing an Oregon History Center at the State Capitol or on the grounds of the State Capitol State Park; now, therefore,

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

SECTION 1. Sections 2 and 3 of this 2009 Act are added to and made a part of the Oregon Vehicle Code.

SECTION 2. (1) The Department of Transportation shall establish a Pacific Wonderland registration plate program to issue special registration plates called “Pacific Wonderland registration plates” upon request to owners of motor vehicles registered under the provisions of ORS 803.420 (1). In addition, the department may adopt rules for issuance of Pacific Wonderland registration plates for vehicles not registered under the provisions of ORS 803.420 (1).

          (2) In addition to any other fee authorized by law, for each set of Pacific Wonderland registration plates issued under subsection (1) of this section, the department shall collect a surcharge of $100 payable when the plates are issued. The department shall transfer the moneys from the surcharge as provided in section 3 of this 2009 Act.

          (3) Notwithstanding ORS 803.530, Pacific Wonderland registration plates may be transferred from vehicle to vehicle if the department stops issuing the plates, as long as the plates are not so old, damaged, mutilated or otherwise rendered illegible as to be not useful for purposes of identification.

          (4) The department shall limit the total number of Pacific Wonderland registration plates to 40,000 sets of plates.

          (5) Notwithstanding ORS 805.202, until the department has issued 40,000 sets of plates under this section, the department may issue four kinds of special registration plates at any one time.

SECTION 3. (1) After deduction of the cost of administration of the Pacific Wonderland registration plate program, the Department of Transportation shall transfer 50 percent of the moneys from the surcharge imposed by section 2 of this 2009 Act to the Oregon State Capitol Foundation and 50 percent to the Oregon Historical Society for the purpose of establishing and maintaining an Oregon History Center at the State Capitol or on the grounds of the State Capitol State Park.

          (2) As used in this section, the cost of administration of the Pacific Wonderland registration plate program is the sum of all department expenses for the issuance or transfer of Pacific Wonderland registration plates under section 2 of this 2009 Act that are above the normal costs of issuing, renewing and transferring registration plates in the normal course of the business of the department. These expenses include, but are not limited to, the costs of collecting the Pacific Wonderland registration plate surcharge and transferring Pacific Wonderland registration plates.

SECTION 4. (1) Notwithstanding ORS 184.642, the Department of Transportation may pay an amount up to $150,000 from the Department of Transportation Operating Fund for expenses incurred in initiating the Pacific Wonderland registration plate program established in section 2 of this 2009 Act, including but not limited to registration plate design, computer programming and production setup. Any portion of the amount paid that is not used for initiating the Pacific Wonderland registration plate program shall be transferred to the account established under subsection (2) of this section.

          (2) Notwithstanding section 3 of this 2009 Act, after deduction of the cost of administration of the Pacific Wonderland registration plate program, the department shall transfer the moneys from the surcharge imposed by section 2 of this 2009 Act to an account in the Department of Transportation Operating Fund until sufficient funds have accumulated for the purpose described in subsection (3) of this section.

          (3) When the department determines that moneys in sufficient amount are available in the account established under subsection (2) of this section, the department shall reimburse the Department of Transportation Operating Fund, without interest, in an amount equal to the amount paid from the Department of Transportation Operating Fund for the costs of initiating the Pacific Wonderland registration plate program.

          (4) Any moneys remaining in the account established under subsection (2) of this section after deduction of the reimbursement required under subsection (3) of this section shall be transferred to the Oregon State Capitol Foundation and the Oregon Historical Society for the purpose of establishing and maintaining an Oregon History Center at the State Capitol. Of the moneys transferred under this subsection, 50 percent shall be transferred to the Oregon State Capitol Foundation and 50 percent shall be transferred to the Oregon Historical Society.

SECTION 5. (1) The Department of Transportation shall use as a design for the plates issued under section 2 of this 2009 Act a design similar to the Pacific Wonderland registration plate that was created as a result of section 2, chapter 15, Oregon Laws 1959, with recognition of Oregon’s 150th birthday.

          (2) Except as otherwise required by the design specified in subsection (1) of this section, Pacific Wonderland registration plates shall comply with the requirements of ORS 803.535.

Approved by the Governor July 23, 2009

Filed in the office of Secretary of State July 23, 2009

Effective date January 1, 2010

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