Brief ⁽¹⁾

SB 611 concerns the issuance of distinctive license plates.

Motorcycle Provisions The bill would allow a motorcycle owner who is a resident of Kansas to apply for and receive a United States military veteran license plate.

These plates would be available to applicants on and after January 1, 2001.

Public Safety License Plates for Passenger Cars and Trucks. The bill would allow a resident owner or lessee of one or more passenger vehicles or trucks registered for a gross weight of 20,000 pounds or less to receive one distinctive license plate for each vehicle designating such person as a public safety member. The bill also:

• �Requires proof that the applicant is a public safety member (a law enforcement officer or firefighter);



• �Provides that the plates will be issued for the same period of time as other license plates upon regulation and payment of the regular license fee;



• �Prohibits the plate from being transferred to any other person;



• �Requires annual registration renewals along with payment of the prescribed fee;



• �Provides that no renewal of registration will be made until the applicant has filed the required form; and



• �Requires the applicant to return the distinctive plates to the county treasurer in the event the applicant does not file the required form.

These plates will be available on and after January 1, 2001.

Agriculture in the Classroom License Plates for Cars and Trucks The bill would authorize the Department of Revenue, on and after January 1, 2001, to issue distinctive license plates on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. Specifically, the bill would:

• �Apply to any resident owner or lessee of one or more passenger vehicles or trucks registered for a gross weight of 20,000 pounds or less;



• �Provide that such plate will be issued for the same period of time upon registration and payment of regular license fee;



• �Require an applicant to present the annual logo use authorization statement to the Director of Vehicles;



• �Authorize the Board the use of its logo on a distinctive license plate;



• �Allow the Board to charge an application fee between $25 and $100 for the use of its logo;



• �Require any royalty payment to the Foundation to be used in accordance to the Foundation's bylaws to further the mission of the Foundation;



• �Prohibit the transfer of the plate to any other person;



• �Require annual registration renewals along with the prescribed fee;



• �Prohibit renewals if the applicant does not present the annual logo use authorization statement; and



• �Require the applicant to return the license plate to the county treasurer's office if the applicant does not file the required form.

The Board of Directors of the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is required to:

• �Pay the initial cost of silk-screening for the license plates;



• �Provide county treasurers with a toll-fee number where applicants can call the board for information regarding the application process; and



• �Design the plate, subject to approval of the Director of Vehicles.

Background

Those who testified in support of the bill before the Senate Transportation and Tourism Committee included James R. Franklin, a military veteran from Liberal, Kansas, and Charles M. Yunker, State Adjutant for the American Legion Department of Kansas. Both of these conferees also appeared before the House Transportation Committee, as well as Senator Tim Huelskamp and Kenneth McNeill of ABATE. The Director of Vehicles appeared before both committees to express the Division of Vehicles' concerns. Representative Shari Weber provided written testimony to House members in support of distinctive license plates for public safety members.

The House Committee added the provisions relating to distinctive license plates for public safety members and for the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.

An updated fiscal note is pending.

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