BILL NUMBER: AB 1550	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 12, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bonilla

                        JANUARY 25, 2012

   An act to amend Section 5068 of, and to add Section 5068.1 to, the
Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1550, as amended, Bonilla. Vehicles: veterans' organizations
license plates: fees.
   Under existing law, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues
environmental and other specialized license plates, including
veterans' organizations license plates. Veterans' organizations
license plates are required to have a distinctive design or decal
 and   . The Department of Veterans Affairs may
modify the plate design or decals, but is prohibited from issuing
those plates or decals, as modified, until existing plates or decals
have been issued.  
   This bill would clarify that this special interest license plate
program shall permit veterans to apply for plates that indicate their
service and nonveterans to apply for plates that honor veterans. The
bill would require the department to issue decals for plates issued
under this program that indicate service, or honor veterans who
served, in a particular war or armed conflict. The bill would require
the department to make available to an applicant, upon request, in
lieu of this decal, a "yellow ribbons/support our troops" decal.

    These special interest license plates    are
subject to fees for issuance, renewal, or personalization that are
additional to those required for nonspecialized license plates.
Existing law requires that the revenue from those additional fees,
less the DMV's costs, be deposited in the Veterans Service Office
Fund.
   Existing law requires money in the Veterans Service Office Fund to
be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the
Department of Veterans Affairs for allocation and disbursement to
counties for the operation of county veterans service offices.
   This bill would increase the amount of those additional fees and
would require the DMV, by July 1, 2013, to add a checkbox to its
registration forms for an original or renewal of vehicle registration
to allow individuals to donate funds to the Veterans Service Office
Fund.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 5068 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   5068.  (a) (1) (A) A veterans' organization may apply either
individually or with other veterans' organizations to meet the
application threshold set forth in Section 5060 for special interest
plates. An organization that meets the minimum application
requirement by applying with other organizations under this
subdivision shall be issued a regular license plate bearing a
distinctive design or decal approved under subdivision (a) of Section
5060.
   (B) The Department of Veterans Affairs may modify the distinctive
design or decal described in subparagraph (A), consistent with the
design criteria imposed by Section 5060  ,   to honor
all veterans, or veterans who served in a particular war or armed
conflict as described in subdivision (b) of Section 5068.1  .
Special interest plates issued under this section and bearing the
modified design or decal shall be issued only after all existing
plates or decals have been issued. 
   (2) Any person described in Section 5101 may apply under this
section for a special interest license plate with a decal that honors
all veterans, or veterans who served in a particular war or armed
conflict.  
   (3) Any veteran may apply under this section for a special
interest license plate with a decal that indicates his or her service
in a particular war or armed conflict.  
   (2) 
    (4)  Special interest  license  plates issued
under this section may be issued in a combination of numbers or
letters, or both, requested by the owner or lessee of the vehicle, to
be displayed in addition to the design or decal authorized under
paragraph (1), subject to Section 5105.
   (b) In addition to the regular fees for an original registration,
a renewal of registration, or a transfer of registration, the
following fees shall be paid by individuals applying for a 
veterans' organization  special interest license plate or
 a  decal  issued under this section :
   (1) Fifty dollars ($50) for the initial issuance of the plates and
decals. The plates shall be permanent and shall not be required to
be replaced.
   (2) Forty dollars ($40) for each renewal of registration that
includes the continued display of the plates or decals.
   (3) Fifteen dollars ($15) for transfer of the plates to another
vehicle.
   (4) Thirty-five dollars ($35) for replacement plates, if they
become damaged or unserviceable.
   (5) Ten dollars ($10) for replacement decals, if they become
damaged or unserviceable.
   (6) Ninety-eight dollars ($98) for the personalization of the
plates, as authorized under paragraph  (2)   (4)
 of subdivision (a).
   (c) The department shall maintain on its Internet Web site, a link
to order online the special interest  license  plates
issued pursuant to this section.
  SEC. 2.  Section 5068.1 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
   5068.1.  By July 1, 2013, the department shall  add
  do all of the following: 
    (a)     Add    a checkbox to
its registration forms for an original or renewal of vehicle
registration to allow individuals to donate funds to the Veterans
Service Office Fund created by Section 972.2 of the Military and
Veterans Code. 
   (b) Issue a distinctive decal pursuant to subparagraph (B) of
paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 5068 to an applicant for
an original or renewal of vehicle registration for veteran plates or
plates honoring veterans to allow that applicant the option of
recognizing his or her veteran status in, or honoring veterans of, a
particular war or armed conflict, including, but not limited to,
those who served in the active military, naval, or air service and
performed any portion of their service during any of the periods
described in Section 980 of the Military and Veterans Code, including
active duty in a campaign or expedition for service in which a medal
was authorized by the government of the United States.  
   (c) The department shall make available to an applicant, upon
request, a "yellow ribbon/support our troops" decal in lieu of the
distinctive decal described in subdivision (b).