SUPPORT OUR TROOPS FUND-RAISING PLATE
House Bill 5840
Sponsor: Rep. Philip LaJoy
Committee: Transportation
Complete to 3-20-06
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5840 AS INTRODUCED 3-7-06
House Bill 5840 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to provide for the development and issuance of a "Support Our Troops" fund-raising license plate or collector plate. The design would be determined by the Secretary of State and contain the emblem or logo of Support our Troops, Inc., displaying a soldier and a child, as well as the words "Support our Troops" and "Michigan." The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 248, meaning it could not take effect unless Senate Bill 248 was also enacted. (Senate Bill 248 would deal in a comprehensive manner with the creation of fund-raising license plates. It also would require the sponsors of a new fund-raising license plate to pay a non-refundable $15,000 start-up fee.)
The bill also would create a Support our Troops Fund within the Department of Treasury, and fund-raising donations recognizing support collected under this section would be transferred by the Secretary of State to the Department of Treasury for disbursement to the Support our Troops Fund.
House Bill 5840 specifies that the State Treasurer could receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the fund, and would direct investments of those funds, as well as credit to the fund any earnings from fund investments. Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year would not lapse to the General Fund.
The bill also specifies that the Secretary of State would disburse money into the fund on a monthly basis to Support our Troops, Inc., to expend money received under this section for United States Troops and their families. Support our Troops, Inc., would be required to provide an annual accounting of the use of the money to the State Treasurer.
Under the bill, a vehicle owner or lessee's application for a Support our Troops fund-raising or collector plate would constitute prior written consent for the secretary of state to provide their name and address to Support Our Troops, Inc.
MCL 257.811Q
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 248, which would require the payment (presumably by the sponsor of a new fund-raising plate) of a non-refundable $15,000 start-up fee to be deposited in the TACF for the cost of developing, producing, and issuing fund-raising plates. If the start-up fee is not paid within 18 months of the effective date of the public act authorizing the new fund-raising plates, the related fund-raising plate could not be created, produced, or issued.
For additional information on the fund-raising license plate program, see the HFA Legislative analysis of Senate Bill 248, as passed by the Senate, at
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2005-2006/billanalysis/House/pdf/2005-HLA-0248-5.pdf
Fiscal Analyst: Bill Hamilton
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.