GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 1999

SESSION LAW 2000-159
SENATE BILL 1210

AN ACT TO MODIFY THE BASIS FOR ISSUING PERMANENT PLATES TO CHURCH BUSES; TO CREATE THE FUND FOR THE REDUCTION OF CLASS SIZE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE LITTER PREVENTION ACCOUNT; TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO ISSUE SEVEN NEW SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES; AND TO EXEMPT THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL PLATES FROM THE TEN DOLLAR ADDITIONAL FEE IMPOSED FOR A SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATE: LEGION OF VALOR, SILVER STAR RECIPIENT, 100% DISABLED VETERAN, AND EX-PRISONER OF WAR; AND TO REQUIRE RED LENSES ON BRAKE LIGHTS.

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'.
…
(16b)	Goodness Grows. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12.  The plate shall bear the 'Goodness Grows in North Carolina' logo and the phrase 'Agriculture:  NC's #1 Industry'.
…
(22a)	Litter Prevention. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12.  The plate may bear a phrase and picture appropriate to the subject of litter prevention in North Carolina.
…
(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.
…
(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
Goodness Grows	$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
Litter Prevention	$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
100% Disabled Veteran	None
Ex-Prisoner of War	None
Legion of Valor	None
Purple Heart Recipient	None
Silver Star 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
Ducks Unlimited	$10	$10	0
Goodness Grows	$10	$10	0
Historical Attraction	$10	$20	0
In-State Collegiate Insignia	$10	$15	0
Kids First	$10	$15	0
Litter Prevention	$10	$10	0
March of Dimes	$10	$10	0
Olympic Games	$10	$15	0
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity	$10	$10	0
Out-of-state Collegiate Insignia	$10	0	$15
Personalized	$10	0	$10
												Scenic Rivers	$10	$10	0
School Technology	$10	$10	0
Soil and Water Conservation	$10	$10	0
Special Olympics	$10	$10	0
State Attraction	$10	$20	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.
(b15)	Litter Prevention Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a Litter Prevention 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 the litter prevention plates to the Litter Prevention Account created pursuant to G.S. 136-125.1.
(b16)	Goodness Grows Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a Goodness Grows 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 Goodness Grows plates to the North Carolina Agricultural Promotions, Inc., to be used to promote the sale of North Carolina agricultural products."
Section 6.  G.S. 20-81.12(b2) is amended by adding the following new subdivision:
"(b2)	State Attraction Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a State attraction plate before the plate may be developed. The Division must transfer quarterly the money in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account derived from the sale of State attraction plates to the organizations named below in proportion to the number of State attraction plates sold representing that organization:
…
(1b)	The North Carolina Maritime Museum. – The revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to Friends of the Museum, North Carolina Maritime Museum, Inc., to be used for educational programs and conservation programs and for operating expenses of the North Carolina Maritime Museum."
Section 7.  G.S. 20-84(b)(9) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Permanent Registration Plates. – The Division may issue permanent plates for the following motor vehicles:
…
(9)	A bus owned by a church and used exclusively for transporting individuals to Sunday school, to church services, and to other church related activities."
Section 8.  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 9.(a)	Chapter 136 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
"Article 10A.
"Litter Prevention Account.
"§ 136-125.1.  Litter Prevention Account.
There is established under the control and direction of the Department of Transportation the Litter Prevention Account.  The Account shall be a nonreverting special revenue account within the Highway Fund and shall consist of moneys credited to the Account under G.S. 20-81.12(b15) from the sale of litter prevention special registration plates.  The Department of Transportation shall allocate the funds in the Account to reduce litter in the State.
"§ 136-125.2.  Report.
The Department of Transportation shall report no later than October 1 of each year to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and the Environmental Review Commission regarding the allocation of funds from the Litter Prevention Account.  The report shall include all receipts to and allocations from the Account made during the previous fiscal year and shall explain how each allocation serves to reduce litter in the State."
Section 9.(b)	Notwithstanding G.S. 136-125.2, as enacted by this act, the first report required under G.S. 136-125.2 is due no later than October 1, 2002.
Section 9.(c)	The Department of Transportation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Public Instruction shall cooperatively develop the phrase and picture to be used on the litter prevention special registration plate authorized by G.S. 20-79.6(b)(22a), as enacted by this act.
Section 9.(d)	The Legislative Research Commission shall study issues related to the prevention and removal of litter.  The Commission shall make a final report of its recommendations regarding the prevention and removal of litter, including any proposed legislation, to the 2001 General Assembly.
Section 10.  G.S. 20-129.1(9) reads as rewritten:
"(9)	Brake lights (and/or brake reflectors) on the rear of a motor vehicle shall have red lenses so that the light displayed is red.  The light illuminating the license plate shall be white.  All other lights shall be white, amber, yellow, clear or red."
Section 11.  Section 10 of this act becomes effective May 1, 2001.  The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 11th day of July, 2000.

s/	Marc Basnight
President Pro Tempore of the Senate

s/	James B. Black
Speaker of the House of Representatives

s/	James B. Hunt, Jr.
Governor

Approved 9:45 a.m. this 2nd day of August, 2000