Brief⁽¹⁾

S.B. 52, as amended, would authorize the Department of Revenue to manufacture and issue distinctive license plates on behalf of two organizations--the Kansas Children's Trust Fund governed by the Governor's Advisory Committee on Children and Families, and a newly formed group, the Kansas Association for Pregnancy Maintenance. Specifically, the bill would:

• �allow these groups' logos to be silk-screened on distinctive license plates and issued to owners of passenger vehicles or trucks with a registered gross weight of 20,000 pounds or less;



• �allow the two groups to charge an application fee between $25 and $100 for the use of their logos;



• �provide that logo royalty payments to the Family and Children Trust Account of the Family and Children Investment Fund would be used to fund local programs for child abuse and neglect prevention purposes;



• �provide that logo royalty payments to the Kansas Association for Pregnancy Maintenance be used to promote adoption, provide counseling, and tend to the physical needs of pregnant women and their children;



• �require both groups to pay the initial cost of silk-screening the logos on the license plates;

• �require the Governor's Advisory Committee on Children and Families to provide county treasurers with a toll-free telephone number where applicants can call to apply for the Kansas Children's Trust Fund plate;



• �exempt the license plates from the $40 fee required for all new distinctive plates authorized after July 1, 1994;



• �require both groups to guarantee to the Department of Revenue the sale of at least 500 plates on or before January 1, 2001 before such plates could be issued; and



• �provide that failure to meet the 500 plate requirement on or before January 1, 2001 would result in the expiration of both programs.

Background

S.B. 52, as introduced, was requested by the Executive Director of the Kansas Children's Trust Fund. Conferees who testified in support of the bill included: the Vice-Chair of the Governor's Committee on Children and Families; the Executive Director of the Kansas Children's Trust Fund; the Director of the Early Childhood Public Awareness Campaign; and the Director of the Family Resource Center. These conferees noted that the bill would create awareness about the problem of child abuse and neglect, and provide additional revenue for the Kansas Children's Trust Fund. The revenue would be used to fund local community child abuse and neglect programs. Conferees also noted that all 50 states and the District of Columbia have passed similar legislation.

There were no opponents to the bill.

The Committee added the provisions relating to Kansas Association for Pregnancy Maintenance.

No fiscal note was available at the time the bill was amended.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html.