GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

S	2 

SENATE BILL 1210
Finance Committee Substitute Adopted 6/5/00

Short Title:  Special Registration Plates.	(Public)

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Sponsors:

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Referred to: 

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May 11, 2000

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO ISSUE SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES, DUCKS UNLIMITED SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES, OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES, AND TOBACCO HERITAGE SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES; TO CREATE THE FUND FOR THE REDUCTION OF CLASS SIZE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AND TO REMOVE THE SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATE ACCOUNT FEE FROM THE LEGION OF VALOR SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES, CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES, 100% DISABLED VETERAN SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES, AND EX-PRISONER OF WAR SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 20-79.4(b)(13a) is recodified as G.S. 20-79.4(b)(13b).
Section 2.  G.S. 20-79.4(b) is amended by adding the following new subdivisions to read:
"(b)	Types. – The Division shall issue the following types of special registration plates:
…
(13a)	Ducks Unlimited. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12.  The plate shall bear the logo of Ducks Unlimited, Inc., and shall bear the words: 'Ducks Unlimited'.
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(29a)	Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12.  The plate shall bear the fraternity's symbol and name.
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(45a)	Support Public Schools. – Issuable  to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12.  The plate shall bear a picture representing an old-time one-room schoolhouse and shall bear the words: 'Support Our Public Schools'.
(45b)	Tobacco Heritage. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle.  The plate shall bear a picture of a tobacco leaf and plow.  The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate."
Section 3.  G.S. 20-79.7(a) reads as rewritten:
	"(a)	Fees. – Upon request, the Division shall provide and issue free of charge one registration plate to a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, a 100% disabled veteran, and an ex-prisoner of war.  All other special registration plates, including additional Congressional Medal of Honor, 100% Disabled Veteran, and Ex-Prisoner of War plates, are subject to the regular motor vehicle registration fee in G.S. 20-87 or G.S. 20-88 plus an additional fee in the following amount: 
Special Plate	Additional Fee Amount
Historical Attraction	$30.00
State Attraction	$30.00
Collegiate Insignia	$25.00
Kids First	$25.00
Olympic Games	$25.00
Special Olympics	$25.00
University Health Systems of
Eastern Carolina	$25.00
Animal Lovers	$20.00
Ducks Unlimited	$20.00
March of Dimes	$20.00
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity	$20.00
Scenic Rivers	$20.00
School Technology	$20.00
Soil and Water Conservation	$20.00
Support Public Schools	$20.00
Wildlife Resources	$20.00
Personalized	$20.00
Active Member of the National Guard	 None
Congressional Medal of Honor	 None
100% Disabled Veteran	 None
Ex-Prisoner of War	 None
Legion of Valor	 None
Purple Heart Recipient	 None
All Other Special Plates	$10.00."
Section 4. G.S. 20-79.7(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Distribution of Fees. – The Special Registration Plate Account and the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account are established within the Highway Fund. The Division must credit the additional fee imposed for the special registration plates listed in subsection (a) among the Special Registration Plate Account (SRPA), the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account (CCAPA), and the Natural Heritage Trust Fund (NHTF), which is established under G.S. 113-77.7, as follows: 
Special Plate	SRPA	CCAPA	NHTF
Animal Lovers	 $10	 $10	   0
Historical Attraction	 $10	 $20	   0
In-State Collegiate Insignia	 $10	 $15	   0
Kids First	 $10	 $15	   0
Out-of-state Collegiate Insignia	 $10	   0	 $15
Personalized	 $10	   0	 $10
Special Olympics	 $10	 $15	   0
Olympic Games	 $10	 $15	   0
State Attraction	 $10	 $20	   0
Ducks Unlimited	 $10	 $10	   0
March of Dimes	 $10	 $10	   0
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity	 $10	 $10	   0
Scenic Rivers	 $10	 $10	   0
School Technology	 $10	 $10	   0
Soil and Water Conservation	 $10	 $10	   0
Support Public Schools	 $10	 $10	   0
University Health Systems of
Eastern Carolina	 $10	 $15	   0
Wildlife Resources	 $10	 $10	   0
All other Special Plates	 $10	   0	   0".
Section 5.  G.S. 20-81.12 is amended by adding the following new subsections to read:
"( b12)	Support Public Schools Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a Support Public Schools plate before the plate may be developed.  The Division shall transfer quarterly the money in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account derived from the sale of Support Public Schools plates to the Fund for the Reduction of Class Size in Public Schools created pursuant to G.S. 115C-472.10.
(b13)	Ducks Unlimited Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a Ducks Unlimited plate and receive any necessary licenses from Ducks Unlimited, Inc., for use of their logo before the plate may be developed.  The Division shall transfer quarterly the money in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account derived from the sale of Ducks Unlimited plates to the Wildlife Resources Commission to be used to support the conservation programs of Ducks Unlimited, Inc., in this State.
(b14)	Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for an Omega Psi Phi Fraternity plate and receive any necessary licenses, without charge, from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, before the plate may be developed.  The Division shall transfer quarterly the money in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account derived from the sale of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity plates to the United Negro College Fund, Inc., through the Winston-Salem Area Office for the benefit of UNCF colleges in this State."
Section 6.  Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
"ARTICLE 32C.
"Fund for the Reduction of Class Size in Public Schools.
"§ 115C-472.10.  Establishment of the Fund for the Reduction of Class Size in Public Schools.
(a)	There is established under the control and direction of the State Board of Education the Fund for the Reduction of Class Size in Public Schools.  This fund shall be a nonreverting special revenue fund consisting of moneys credited to it under G.S. 20-81.12(b12) from the sale of special registration plates to support the public schools.
(b)	The State Board of Education shall allocate funds in the Fund for the Reduction of Class Size in Public Schools to local school administrative units to reduce class size in public schools."
Section 7.  This act is effective when it becomes law.