BILL NUMBER: AB 1550	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bonilla

                        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, as introduced, 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 and
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 and
would require the DMV, by July 1, 2013, to add a checkbox to its
registration forms for an original or renewal of vehicle registration
to allow individuals to donate funds to the Veterans Service Office
Fund.
   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 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. Special interest plates
issued under this section and bearing the modified design or decal
shall be issued only after all existing plates or decals have been
issued.
   (2) Special interest 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 veterans'
organization special interest license plate or decal:
   (1)  Thirty dollars ($30)   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)  Thirty dollars ($30)   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)  Forty dollars ($40)   Ninety-eight
dollars ($98)  for the personalization of the plates, as
authorized under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).
   (c)  By July 1, 2011, the   The 
department shall maintain on its Internet Web site, a link to order
online the special interest 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 add a checkbox to
its registration forms for an original or renewal of vehicle
registration to allow individuals to donate funds to the Veterans
Service Office Fund created by Section 972.2 of the Military and
Veterans Code.