DUCKS UNLIMITED LICENSE PLATE
House Bill 4354 (Substitute H-1)
Sponsor: Rep. Philip Potvin
Committee: Transportation
Complete to6-8-11
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4354 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE 5-31-11
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to require the Secretary of State to develop a fund-raising plate and matching collector plate recognizing Ducks Unlimited. The bill also would create the Ducks Unlimited Fund and require donations for those plates to be deposited into the Fund for disbursement to the Michigan Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.
Under the bill, the Michigan Chapter of Ducks Unlimited could use money received from the fund to support all aspects of wetland conservation, including protection, restoration, enhancement, research, and management. It also could fund education and outreach regarding wetlands conservation and the costs for advertising and administration of the fund-raising plate.
The Vehicle Code allows the Secretary of State to develop, at any one time, up to eight different state-sponsored fund-raising registration plates and matching state-sponsored collector plates. The bill would remove that limit on the number of plates. (This limit does not apply to the plates supporting the 15 state-sponsored universities.)
The act requires that a start-up fee of $15,000 must be paid for any new fund-raising plate. This revenue is deposited in the Transportation Administration Collection Fund to be used for the cost of creating, producing, and issuing the plate. Current language requires fees to be deposited in this fund through October 1, 2011. The bill would extend that date to October 1, 2015. If enacted, the bill would take effect January 1, 2012.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The bill 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. Under the Vehicle Code, 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.
POSITIONS:
Secretary of State is neutral on the bill. (5-31-11)
A representative of Ducks Unlimited testified in support of the bill. (5-31-11)
Fiscal Analyst: Ben Gielczyk
■ 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.