SECOND REGULAR SESSION

[PERFECTED]

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 1449

92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

                  Reported from the Committee on Transportation and Motor Vehicles, March 11, 2004, with recommendation that the House Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 1449 Do Pass by Consent.

                  Perfected by Consent March 29, 2004.

                                                                                                                                                                         STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk

3926L.02P

AN ACT

To amend chapter 301, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to special license plates.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Section A. Chapter 301, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto two new sections, to be known as sections 301.3078 and 301.3132, to read as follows:

            301.3078. Any person who served in the military operation known as Operation Iraqi Freedom and either currently serves in any branch of the United States armed forces or was honorably discharged from such service may apply for Operation Iraqi Freedom motor vehicle license plates, for any motor vehicle the person owns, either solely or jointly, other than an apportioned motor vehicle or a commercial motor vehicle licensed in excess of eighteen thousand pounds gross weight. Any such person shall make application for the license plates authorized by this section on a form provided by the director of revenue and furnish such proof of service in Operation Iraqi Freedom and status as currently serving in a branch of the armed forces of the United States or as an honorably discharged veteran as the director may require. Upon presentation of the proof of eligibility, payment of a fifteen-dollar fee in addition to the regular registration fees and presentation of documents which may be required by law, the director shall then issue license plates bearing letters or numbers or a combination thereof as determined by the director, with the words "OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM VETERAN" in place of the words "SHOW-ME STATE". Notwithstanding the provisions of section 301.144, no additional fee shall be charged for the personalization of license plates issued pursuant to this section. The plates shall be clearly visible at night and shall be aesthetically attractive, as prescribed by section 301.130. There shall be no limit on the number of license plates any person qualified pursuant to this section may obtain so long as each set of license plates issued pursuant to this section is issued for vehicles owned solely or jointly by such person. License plates issued pursuant to this section shall not be transferable to any other person except that any registered co-owner of the motor vehicle may operate the motor vehicle for the duration of the year licensed in the event of the death of the qualified person.

            301.3132. 1. Any member of Missouri Society of Professional Engineers may receive special license plates as prescribed by this section, for any motor vehicle such person owns, either solely or jointly, other than an apportioned motor vehicle or a commercial motor vehicle licensed in excess of eighteen thousand pounds gross weight, after an annual payment of an emblem-use authorization fee to Missouri Society of Professional Engineers Educational Foundation. Missouri Society of Professional Engineers hereby authorizes the use of its official emblem to be affixed on multiyear personalized license plates as provided in this section. Any contribution to Missouri Society of Professional Engineers Educational Foundation derived from this section, except reasonable administrative costs, shall be used solely for the purposes of Missouri Society of Professional Engineers Educational Foundation and shall be deposited into the society's educational fund. Any member of Missouri Society of Professional Engineers may annually apply for the use of the emblem.

            2. Upon annual application and payment of a twenty-five dollar emblem-use contribution to Missouri Society of Professional Engineers Educational Foundation, the organization shall issue to the vehicle owner, without further charge, an emblem-use authorization statement, which shall be presented by the owner to the department of revenue at the time of registration of a motor vehicle. Upon presentation of the annual statement, payment of a fifteen dollar fee in addition to the registration fee and documents which may be required by law, the department of revenue shall issue to the vehicle owner a personalized license plate which shall bear the emblem of Missouri Society of Professional Engineers and the words "MISSOURI SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS" in place of the words "SHOW-ME STATE". Such license plates shall be made with fully reflective material with a common color scheme and design, shall be clearly visible at night, and shall be aesthetically attractive, as prescribed by section 301.130. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 301.144, no additional fee shall be charged for the personalization of license plates pursuant to this section.

            3. A vehicle owner, who was previously issued a plate with the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers' emblem authorized by this section but who does not provide an emblem-use authorization statement at a subsequent time of registration, shall be issued a new plate which does not bear the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers' emblem, as otherwise provided by law. The director of revenue shall make necessary rules and regulations for the administration of this section, and shall design all necessary forms required by this section. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to the authority of this section shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo.