BILL NUMBER: SB 378	CHAPTERED  08/01/03

	CHAPTER  153
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 1, 2003
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 31, 2003
	PASSED THE SENATE  JULY 21, 2003
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JULY 10, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 17, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 21, 2003

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Morrow
   (Coauthors:  Senators Aanestad and Bowen)
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Bates, Daucher, Dutton, Haynes,
Horton, La Suer, Maze, Nakanishi, Pacheco, Pavley, Runner, Spitzer,
and Strickland)

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2003

   An act to amend Section 4467 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 378, Morrow.  Vehicles:  license plates.
   Existing law provides for the assignment of a specific license
number to a motor vehicle, which may be changed only upon application
to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and under certain
circumstances.  Existing law requires the DMV to provide a new set of
license plates to a registered owner of a vehicle who appears in
person and submits a completed application and also presents to the
DMV the previously issued plates, proof of identity and vehicle
ownership, and either evidence of victimization by a domestic abuser
or evidence of efforts to get assistance in regard to the domestic
abuse, as specified.  These provisions do not apply to special
interest license plates.
   This bill would include subjects of stalkings, as specified,
within the provisions requiring the DMV to provide a new set of
license plates to a registered owner of a vehicle who appears in
person and submits an application, as described above.  The bill
would also require the applicant to provide certain specified fees
regarding the issuance of duplicate license plates.
   The bill, in addition to special interest license plates, would
provide that the bill's provisions and those of existing law would
not apply to special license plates or environmental license plates.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 4467 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   4467.  (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
department shall issue new and different license plates immediately
upon request to the registered owner of a vehicle who appears in
person and submits a completed application, if all of the following
are  provided:
   (1) Proof of ownership of the vehicle that is acceptable to the
department.
   (2) A driver's license or identification card containing a picture
of the licensee or cardholder issued to the registered owner by the
department pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 12500) of
Division 6.  The department shall conduct a search of its records to
verify the authenticity of any document submitted under this
paragraph.
   (3) The previously issued license plates from the vehicle.
   (4) The payment of required fees under subdivision (c) of Section
4850 and subdivision (b) of Section 9265 for the issuance of
duplicate license plates.
   (5) One of the following:
   (A) A copy of a police report, court documentation, or other law
enforcement documentation identifying the registered owner of the
vehicle as the victim of an incident of domestic violence , as
specified in Section 1708.6 of the Civil Code, or the subject of
stalking, as specified in Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code or Section
646.9 of the Penal Code.
   (B) A written acknowledgment, dated within 30 days of submission,
on the letterhead of a domestic violence agency, that the registered
owner is actively seeking assistance or has sought assistance from
that agency within the past year.
   (C) An active protective order as defined in Section 6218 of the
Family Code, or issued pursuant to Section 527.6 or 527.8 of the Code
of Civil Procedure, which names the registered owner as a protected
party.
   (b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to special license plates
issued under Article 8 (commending with Section 5000) of Chapter 1 of
Division 3, special interest license plates issued under Article 8.4
(commencing with Section 5060) of Chapter 1 of Division 3, or
environmental license plates issued under Article 8.5 (commencing
with Section 5100) of Chapter 1 of Division 3.