"CHOOSE LIFE" FUND-RAISING PLATE - S.B. 466 & H.B. 4759 (H-1): COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 466 (as introduced 5-9-01)
House Bill 4759 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Senator Valde Garcia (Senate Bill 466)
Representative Gary Newell (House Bill 4759)
Senate Committee: Transportation and Tourism
House Committee: Transportation (House Bill 4759)
Date Completed: 11-12-02
CONTENT
The bills would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to require the Secretary of State to develop and issue a "Choose Life" fund-raising plate; require a $25 donation for the plate; require the donation to be deposited into a proposed "Choose Life Fund"; and require the disbursement of money in the Fund to agencies providing pregnancy counseling (but not abortion referrals). The bills are tie-barred to each other.
Senate Bill 466
The Secretary of State would have to design the plate, with the words "Choose Life" inscribed on it. The word "Michigan" also would have to appear on the plate.
The owner of a vehicle required to be registered under the Code could apply for a Choose Life registration plate instead of a standard registration plate. Upon application and payment of the regular registration tax, a $5 service fee, and a $25 donation, the Secretary of State would have to issue a Choose Life plate for the vehicle. The Secretary of State would have to deposit the $25 donation into the proposed Choose Life Fund.
House Bill 4759 (H-1)
The bill would create the Choose Life Fund in the State Treasurer. The State Treasurer could receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the Fund. The State Treasurer would have to direct the investment of the Fund, and credit to it interest and earnings from Fund investments. Money in the Fund at the close of a fiscal year would remain in the Fund.
The State Treasurer would have to disburse money in the Fund on a semiannual basis to each county in proportion to the amount of donations received from issuing Choose Life plates in each county. Each county would have to distribute the money to a nongovernmental nonprofit agency or organization providing services and counseling to women with unplanned or unwanted pregnancies. Money could not be distributed to an agency involved or associated with referrals to abortion clinics or providing abortion procedures.
An agency receiving money from the Fund could not charge a fee for the services or counseling provided. The agency would have to give the county an annual accounting of the use of the money.
Proposed MCL 257.217i (S.B. 466) - Legislative Analyst: Suzanne Lowe
Proposed MCL 257.217j (H.B. 4759)
FISCAL IMPACT
The statutes for existing fund-raising license plates set a service fee of $10. The level of this fee was established following an evaluation of the administrative, manufacturing, and distribution costs of the plates. The $10 service fee is revenue-neutral, meaning it covers exactly the cost of producing the plate and the State experiences no net gain or loss. The service fee established in the bill would be $5. This would result in a cost to the State of $5 for every plate purchased. Costs incurred by the Department of Treasury for administration of the Choose Life Fund would be negligible.
- Fiscal Analyst: Jessica RunnelsS0102\s466sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.