BILL NUMBER: AB 1550	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  398
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 13, 2012
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 21, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 6, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 28, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 14, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 21, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 12, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bonilla
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Allen, Huffman, Jeffries, Williams,
and Yamada)
   (Coauthors: Senators Alquist and Strickland)

                        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, 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.
The Department of Veterans Affairs may modify the plate design or
decals, but is prohibited from issuing those plates or decals, as
modified, until all existing plates or decals have been issued.
   This bill would authorize prescribed persons to apply for a
special interest license plate that honors all veterans or veterans
who served in a particular war or armed conflict. This bill would
require the department to issue by July 1, 2013, decals for plates
issued under this program that honor all veterans or veterans who
served in a particular war or armed conflict to an applicant, to make
available to an applicant, upon request, in lieu of this decal, a
"yellow ribbons/support our troops" decal, and to eliminate from
inventory any decals for which the department determines that demand
is insufficient to maintain that inventory in a cost-effective
manner.
   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.


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 (a) 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 have been
issued.
   (2) Any person who is the registered owner or lessee of a
passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or
semitrailer registered or certificated with the department, or any
person who applies for an original registration or renewal of
registration of that vehicle 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) 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 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) Seventy-eight dollars ($78) for the personalization of the
plates, as authorized under paragraph (3) 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 do all of the
following:
   (a) 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.
   (b) Make available to an applicant, upon request, a "yellow
ribbon/support our troops" decal in lieu of the distinctive decal
described in subdivision (a).
   (c) Eliminate from inventory any decals for which the department
determines that demand is insufficient to maintain that inventory in
a cost-effective manner.