BILL ANALYSIS AB 498 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 498 (Hayashi) As Amended August 17, 2010 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |72-1 |(January 27, |SENATE: |34-0 |(August 19, | | | |2010) | | |2010) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: TRANS. SUMMARY : Requires the development of a special license plate for former prisoners of war (POWs) that does not identify the status of the plate holders as former POWs. The Senate amendments : 1)Strike all the provisions previously included in this bill. 2)Make legislative declarations and findings, including an acknowledgement that due to the experience of being held captive, there are ex-POWs that appreciate the vehicle registration fee exemption provided in the Vehicle Code in recognition of their service, but for personal reasons, would prefer not to have their ex-POW status displayed on their vehicle license plates. 3)Require the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans' service organizations, to design and make available for issuance a special environmental design license plate for former American prisoners of war who prefer not to have their former status as a "POW" or "Ex-Prisoner of War" identified by words or other markings or symbols. 4)Specify that this provision is not intended to prohibit individuals eligible for the special license plate from selecting the existing POW license plate. 5)Require the new plate to provide a space not larger than two inches by three inches to the left of the numerical series and a space not larger than five-eighths of an inch in height below the numerical series for a distinctive design, decal, or descriptive message as authorized by statute. AB 498 Page 2 6)Require the plates to be issued in sequential numerical order or in a combination of numbers or letters. 7)Prohibit the plates from identifing "POW" or "Ex-Prisoner of War" by words or other markings or symbols. EXISTING LAW : 1)Allows persons who are a former American POWs to apply for special license plates containing a replica design of the American Prisoner of War Medal followed by the letters "POW" and four numbers. 2)Requires these plates issued to also contain the words: "Ex-Prisoner of War." 3)Requires DMV to reserve and issue the plates only to persons who show by satisfactory proof former POW status. 4)Exempts these plates from the $48 fee normally assessed for issuance of environmental license plates (those where the plates' numbers and letters have been specifically requested by the vehicle owner) as well as the $38 fee normally assessed for the transfer of plates. 5)Exempts POW plates from all vehicle registration fees other than for duplicate plates, cards, certificates. AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill allowed: 1)Any former American POW who was otherwise eligible for a POW license plate to instead apply for a veterans' organization license plate and decal and be afforded the same fee exemptions as those granted for POW plates. 2)The surviving spouses of former POWs to retain the veterans' organization plates. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, this bill will involve minor and absorbable costs for DMV. COMMENTS : According to the author, although former American POWs may obtain special license plate that are exempt from AB 498 Page 3 vehicle license and registration fees, they have a limited selection of license plates to choose from, all which include the replica of the Ex-POW Medal followed by the letters "POW" and four numbers. "While ex-POWs are proud of their military service, not all are comfortable advertising that they were a former POW," she reports. This bill would require the establishment of an alternative license plate for former POWs that does not specifically identify their status as such. Analysis Prepared by : Howard Posner / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN: 0006256