BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1908
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Date of Hearing: May 5, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 1908 (Cook) - As Amended: March 11, 2010
Policy Committee:
TransportationVote:14-0
Veterans Affairs 9-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill allows the California Department of Veterans Affairs
to modify the design of license plates that support veterans'
organizations in order to make the plates more marketable to non
veterans. Specifically, this bill:
1)Allows California Department of Veterans Affairs to modify the
distinctive design or decal for veterans' organization special
interest license plates.
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
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, leaving all of the receipts
in the veterans' fund.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Minor and absorbable costs to DMV.
2)A minor shift in funds (probably around $6,000 annually) from
the California Environmental License Plate Fund to the
Veterans Service Office Fund due to the elimination of the
AB 1908
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50-50 split of fees from replacement decals.
COMMENTS
1)Background . Existing law allows any state agency to apply to
DMV to sponsor a specialized license plate program. It also
allows any veterans' organization to apply for a special
interest license plate, the proceeds of which are deposited
into the Veterans Service Office Fund.
The county veteran services officers are established at the
discretion of each county's board of supervisors. The county
veteran services officers are typically the first point of
contact for veterans in applying for benefits offered by the
federal Veterans Administration. The help county veteran
services officers play a key role in helping veterans and
their families pursue and receive the benefits and services
for which these individuals may qualify.
2)Rationale . The purpose of this bill is to increase revenues
from veteran's organizations license plates and raise funds
for county veteran officer services. According to the author,
this bill is intended to help county veteran services officers
and California Department of Veterans Affairs to better market
veterans organization license plates. The resulting revenue
increase would enable county veteran services officers to
expand their operations of providing veterans, and their
families, free claims assistance and referral to local, state,
and federal programs.
The author believes a modification of the plate's design will
make it more appealing, while having Department of Motor
Vehicles make the plate available for on-line ordering will
stimulate sales. The author's office also indicates that
elimination of the 50-50 split of fee proceeds from
replacement decals recognizes the fact that the veterans
license plate is intended to benefit veterans programs, rather
than environmental programs.
Analysis Prepared by : Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081