BILL ANALYSIS
AB 498
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 498 (Hayashi)
As Amended August 17, 2010
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |72-1 |(January 27, |SENATE: |34-0 |(August 19, |
| | |2010) | | |2010) |
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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.
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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
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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