A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide for an additional fee of seventy‑five dollars for Certain special registration plates.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑79.7 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20‑79.7.  Fees for special registration plates and distribution of the fees.
(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. The Division shall provide additional Congressional Medal of Honor, 100% Disabled Veteran, and Ex‑Prisoner of War plates, and National Guard Member, Legion of Valor, Purple Heart Recipient, and Silver Star Recipient special registration plates upon the payment of the regular motor vehicle registration fee in G.S. 20‑87 or G.S. 20-88. All other special registration plates are subject to the regular motor vehicle registration vehicle fee in G.S. 20-87 or G.S. 20-88 plus an additional fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00).																												
							(b)	Distribution of Fees. – The Special Registration Plate Account is established within the Highway Fund. The Division shall credit one-half of the additional fee imposed for the special registration plates listed in subsection (a) of this section to the Special Registration Plate Account 																																																																																										
and one-half of the fee shall be remitted quarterly to the State Treasurer to be divided equally for retirement benefits for state law enforcement officers administered in accordance with Article 12C of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, separation allowances for law enforcement officers administered in accordance with Article 12D of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, retirement benefits for local governmental law enforcement officers administered in accordance with Article 12E of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, Separate Insurance Benefits Plan for State and local governmental law enforcement officers administered in accordance with Article 12F of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes, and the Sheriffs' Supplemental Pension Fund administered in accordance with Article 12H of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes.
(c)	Use of Funds in Special Registration Plate Account. – 
(1)	The Division shall deduct the costs of special registration plates, including the costs of issuing, handling, and advertising the availability of the special plates, from the Special Registration Plate Account.
(2)	From the funds remaining in the Special Registration Plate Account after the deductions in accordance with subdivision (1) of this subsection, there is annually appropriated from the Special Registration Plate Account the sum of five hundred twenty‑five thousand dollars ($525,000) to provide operating assistance for the Visitor Centers:
a.	on U.S. Highway 17 in Camden County, ($75,000);
b.	on U.S. Highway 17 in Brunswick County, ($75,000);
c.	on U.S. Highway 441 in Macon County, ($75,000);
d.	in the Town of Boone, Watauga County, ($75,000);
e.	on U.S. Highway 29 in Caswell County, ($75,000);
f.	on U.S. Highway 70 in Carteret County, ($75,000); and
g.	on U.S. Highway 64 in Tyrrell County, ($75,000).
(3)	The Division shall transfer the remaining revenue in the Account quarterly as follows:
a.	Thirty‑three percent (33%) to the account of the Department of Commerce to aid in financing out‑of‑state print and other media advertising under the program for the promotion of travel and industrial development in this State.
b.	Fifty percent (50%) to the Department of Transportation to be used solely for the purpose of beautification of highways other than those designated as interstate. These funds shall be administered by the Department of Transportation for beautification purposes not inconsistent with good landscaping and engineering principles.
c.	Seventeen percent (17%) to the account of the Department of Health and Human Services to promote travel accessibility for disabled persons in this State. These funds shall be used to collect and update site information on travel attractions designated by the Department of Commerce in its publications, to provide technical assistance to travel attractions concerning accommodation of disabled tourists, and to develop, print, and promote the publication ACCESS NORTH CAROLINA as provided in G.S. 168‑2. Any funds allocated for these purposes that are neither spent nor obligated at the end of the fiscal year shall be transferred to the Department of Administration for removal of man‑made barriers to disabled travelers at State‑funded travel attractions. Guidelines for the removal of man‑made barriers shall be developed in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 20‑81.12 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20‑81.12.  Collegiate insignia plates and certain other special plates.
(a)	Collegiate Insignia Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a collegiate insignia license plate for a college or university before a collegiate license plate may be developed. The color, design, and material for the plate shall be approved by both the Division and the alumni or alumnae association of the appropriate college or university. (b)	Historical Attraction Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for an historical attraction plate representing a publicly owned or nonprofit historical attraction located in North 			Carolina.
(b1)	Special Olympics Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a special olympics plate before the plate may be developed. (b2)	State Attraction Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a State attraction plate before the plate may be developed. 				
(b3)	Wildlife Resources Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a wildlife resources plate with a picture representing a particular native wildlife species occurring in North Carolina before the plate may be developed. 
(b4)	Olympic Games. – The Division may not issue an Olympic Games special plate unless it receives 300 or more applications for the plate and the U.S. Olympic Committee licenses, without charge, the State to develop a plate bearing the Olympic Games symbol and name. 			
(b5)	March of Dimes Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a March of Dimes plate before the plate may be developed. 
(b6)	School Technology Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a School Technology plate before the plate may be developed. 
(b7)	Scenic Rivers Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a Scenic Rivers plate before the plate may be developed. (b8)	Soil and Water Conservation Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a soil and water conservation plate before the plate may be developed. (b9)	Kids First Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a Kids First plate before the plate may be developed. (b10)	University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina plate before the plate may be developed. 
(b11)	Animal Lovers Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications before an animal lovers plate may be developed. 
(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. (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. (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. 
(b15)	Litter Prevention Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a Litter Prevention plate before the plate may be developed. (b16)	Goodness Grows Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a Goodness Grows plate before the plate may be developed. (b17)	Audubon North Carolina Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for an Audubon North Carolina plate before the plate may be developed. (b18)	Special Forces Association. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a Special Forces Association plate before the plate may be developed. (b19)	The V Foundation for Cancer Research. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a V Foundation plate before the plate may be developed. (b20)	Save the Sea Turtles. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a Save the Sea Turtles plate before the plate may be developed. (b21)	Harley Owners' Group. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a Harley Owners' Group plate before the plate may be developed. (b22)	Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation plate before the plate may be developed. (b23)	NC Agribusiness. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a NC Agribusiness plate before the plate may be developed. (c)	General. – An application for a special license plate named in this section may be made at any time during the year. If the application is made to replace an existing current valid plate, the special plate shall be issued with the appropriate decals attached. No refund shall be made to the applicant for any unused portion remaining on the original plate. The request for a special license plate named in this section may be combined with a request that the plate be a personalized license plate.
(d)	through (g) Repealed by Session Laws 1991 (Regular Session, 1992), c. 1042, s. 3."
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2003, and shall apply to the special registration plates listed in this act and any other special registration plates that may be authorized by the General Assembly on or after the effective date of this act.