VEHICLE FUND-RAISING LICENSE PLATES
House Bill 4130 as introduced
Sponsor: Rep. Erika Geiss
House Bill 4348 as introduced
Sponsor: Rep. Pam Faris
House Bill 4932 as introduced
Sponsor: Rep. Peter J. Lucido
House Bill 4967 as introduced
Sponsor: Rep. John Bizon, M.D.
Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
Complete to 11-30-15
SUMMARY:
Each bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to require the Secretary of State to develop and issue fund-raising license plates to recognize the following organizations: the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, Girl Scouts of America, the Michigan District of Kiwanis International, and the Sojourner Truth Museum. The bills are similar and are described below.
House Bill 4130: Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs
The Secretary of State would design the plate in conjunction with the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs. The Arts Fund would be newly created within the state treasury, and the State Treasurer could receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the fund. The treasurer would be required to direct the investment of the fund and credit to the fund interest and earnings from fund investments. Money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year would remain in the fund and not lapse to the state General Fund. The Secretary of State would transfer the donation money from the fund-raising plate to the treasurer, who would credit the donations to the fund and disburse money in the fund on a quarterly basis to the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs. (As introduced, the bill designates the Secretary of State as the administrator of the fund for auditing purposes.)
House Bill 4348: Girls Scouts of America
The fund-raising plate would be designed by the Secretary of State in conjunction with the Girl Scouts. Donations collected from the fund-raising plate would be transferred by the Secretary of State to the State Treasurer, who would be required to credit the money to the Girl Scouts of America Fund. The treasurer could receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the fund, and would direct the investment of the fund, crediting to the fund interest and earnings from fund investments. Money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year would remain in the fund and not lapse to the state General Fund. The State Treasurer would disburse money in the fund on a quarterly basis to the Girl Scouts of America. (As introduced, the bill says that the Secretary of State would be the administrator of the funds for auditing purposes.)
House Bill 4932: Michigan District of Kiwanis International
The Secretary of State would design a plate recognizing the Michigan District of Kiwanis International. A special fund would be created within the Department of Treasury, and the treasurer would have to credit the donation money from the sale of the plates received from the Secretary of State to the new fund, and disburse money in the funds on a quarterly basis to the Michigan District of Kiwanis International. The State Treasurer would be the administrator of the fund for auditing purposes. The treasurer could receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the fund, and would direct the investment of the fund, crediting to the fund interest and earnings from fund investments. Money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year would remain in the fund and not lapse to the state General Fund.
House Bill 4967: Sojourner Truth
The Secretary of State would design the fund-raising plate to recognize Sojourner Truth in conjunction with the Sojourner Truth Museum (being constructed in Battle Creek). A special new fund would be created within the Department of Treasury, and the Secretary of State would transfer donation money from the sale of the plate to the State Treasurer for crediting to that fund. The treasurer would then disburse money in the fund on a quarterly basis to the museum. The State Treasurer would be the administrator of the new fund for auditing purposes. The treasurer could receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the fund. The treasurer would have to direct the investment of the funds and credit to it interest and earnings from fund investments. Money in the funds at the close of the fiscal year would remain in the funds and could not lapse into the state general fund.
MCL 257.1 et al.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The four bills would result in a nominal increase in costs to the Department of State. The Michigan Vehicle Code requires a $15,000 startup fee to be paid to the department to offset the costs of developing, producing and issuing each new fundraising plate. The Department of State would receive a $10 service fee from drivers who purchase the fundraising plates, but the fee does not fully offset the costs to the department. The department can discontinue a fundraising plate if fewer than 2,000 plates are sold in the first year the plate is offered and fewer than 500 plates are sold in each of the next five years. The bills would not have a fiscal impact on local governments.
Fiscal Analyst: Perry Zielak
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.