BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1908
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Date of Hearing: April 5, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
AB 1908 (Cook) - As Amended: March 11, 2010
SUBJECT : Special interest license plates
SUMMARY : Allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to
modify the design of license plates that support veterans
organizations. Specifically, this bill :
1)Allows DVA to modify the distinctive design or decal for
veterans' organization special interest license plates,
consistent with existing statutory design criteria.
2)Allows the modified license plates to be issued only after all
existing plates or decals have been issued.
3)Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), by July 1,
2011, to maintain on its Internet Web site, a link to order
online the modified license plates.
4)Repeals the statute that currently requires proceeds from the
$10 fee for replacement decals to be divided evenly between
the Veterans Service Office Fund and the California
Environmental License Plate Fund.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Allows any state agency to apply to DMV to sponsor a
specialized license plate program.
2)Allows any veterans' organization to apply for a special
interest license plate, the proceeds of which are deposited
into the Veterans Service Office Fund.
3)Requires special interest license plates to provide a 2 inch
by 3 inch space to the left of the plate's numerical series
and a space of 5/8 inch in height below the numerical series
for a distinctive design, decal, or descriptive message.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. In calendar 2008, the veterans plate
generated $600,000 in revenues.
AB 1908
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COMMENTS : According to the author, this bill is intended to
help county veteran services officers (CVSOs) and DVA to better
market veterans organization license plates. The resulting
revenue increase would enable CVSOs to expand their operations
of providing veterans and their families free claims assistance
and referral to local, state and federal programs. It is
believed that a modification of the plate's design will make it
more appealing, while having DMV make the plate available for
on-line ordering will stimulate sales. Finally, the bill
repeals the current requirement for one-half of the revenue from
replacement decals to be deposited in the Environmental License
Plate Fund.
CVSOs provide a valuable resource for California's large
population of veterans. As the author reports, "With offices in
54 of California's 58 counties, and employing over 250 local
government employees, the CVSOs represent a significant resource
to our veteran community. This significant human resource
represents a highly effective and low-cost solution to the
challenges of service delivery to California's large veterans'
community. Because CVSOs are located in communities statewide,
they are often the initial point of local contact for claimants
accessing the VA benefit system. Clients are also referred to
CVSOs by federal, state and service organization personnel in
recognition of their accessibility and acknowledged expertise in
the field of veterans' services."
The author notes that the intention of the veterans plate was
that it would be available to all licensed Californians for
purchase. Since the current design of the plate simply reads
"Veteran" with a red and blue line on the bottom portion of the
plate, he contends it sends the message that only veterans may
purchase and display the plate. This is believed to hamper the
sales goals of the CVSOs and DVA.
Legislative history : The special interest license plate program
for veterans was created by AB 3033 (Conroy), Chapter 1275,
Statutes of 1992.
Double referral : This bill is also referred to the Committee on
Veterans Affairs.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
AB 1908
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California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
(sponsor)
County of San Bernardino (sponsor)
Opposition
None received
Analysis Prepared by : Howard Posner / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093