BILL NUMBER: AB 1658	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gatto

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2012

   An act to add Section 5004.3 to the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1658, as introduced, Gatto. Vehicles: specialized license
plates.
    Under existing law, the Department of Motor Vehicles issues
environmental and other specialized license plates. The issuance of
some of those license plates is subject to additional fees.
   This bill would require the department to create the California
Legacy License Plate Program, and create and issue a series of
specialized license plates that replicate plates from the states
past, if 2,500 applications for the plates are received and held by
the department, on or before January 1, 2014. The bill would require
that, upon determination by the department that there are sufficient
funds for the program, moneys would be available, upon appropriation
by the Legislature, to the department for the necessary
administrative costs of establishing the program and, as to any
remaining moneys, for deposit into the California Environmental
License Plate Fund for appropriation by the Legislature pursuant to
existing law.
   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 5004.3 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
   5004.3.  (a) Subject to subdivision (c), the department shall
establish the California Legacy License Plate Program and create and
issue a series of specialized license plates known as California
Legacy License Plates that replicate the look of California license
plates from the state's past. The design of the plates shall be
identical to a regular license plate, except as provided in
subdivision (b).
   (b) The California Legacy License Plates shall consist of one or
more of the following designs:
   (1) Yellow background with black lettering per the appearance of
California license plates issued by the department in the 1950s.
   (2) Black background with yellow lettering per the appearance of
California license plates issued by the department in the 1960s.
   (3) Blue background with yellow lettering per the appearance of
California license plates issued by the department in the 1980s.
   (c) In addition to the regular fees for an original registration
or renewal of registration, the following additional fees shall be
paid for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of the specialized
license plates:
   (1) Fifty dollars ($50) for the original issuance of the plates.
   (2) Forty dollars ($40) for a renewal of registration with the
plates.
   (3) Fifteen dollars ($15) for transfer of the plates to another
vehicle.
   (4) Thirty-five dollars ($35) for each substitute replacement
plate.
   (d) The department shall not issue a California Legacy License
Plates for a vehicle that is exempt from the payment of registration
fees pursuant to Section 9101 or 9103.
   (e) (1) The department shall not establish the California Legacy
License Plate Program until the department has received not less than
2,500 paid applications for plates. The department shall collect and
hold applications for the plates. The department shall not issue a
specialized license plate until it has received not less than 2,500
paid applications for the particular plates within the time period
prescribed in this section.
   (2) The department shall have until January 1, 2014, to receive
the required number of applications. If, after that date, 2,500 paid
applications have not been received, the department shall immediately
refund to all applicants all fees or deposits that have been
collected.
   (f) (1) Upon determination by the department that there are
sufficient funds for the program, moneys shall be available, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to the department for the necessary
administrative costs of establishing the California Legacy License
Plate Program.
   (2) After deducting its administrative costs under this
subdivision, the department shall deposit any additional revenue
derived from the issuance, renewal, transfer, and substitution of the
specialized license plates into the California Environmental License
Plate Fund, for appropriation by the Legislature pursuant to
existing law.