SCA AWARENESS FUND-RAISING PLATE H.B. 5920:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 5920 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Ronnie D. Peterson
House Committee: Transportation
Ways and Means
Senate Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to do the following:
-- Require the Secretary of State (SOS) to develop and issue a fund-raising plate or collector plate recognizing sickle-cell anemia education and treatment.
-- Create the Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness Fund within the State Treasury and require the money from the sale of the plates to be deposited into the Fund.
-- Require the State Treasurer to disburse money in the Fund on a quarterly basis to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc., Michigan Chapter.
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
Specifically, the bill would require the SOS to develop under Section 811e and issue under Section 811f a fund-raising plate or collector plate recognizing sickle cell anemia education and treatment. The SOS would have to design the fund-raising plate in conjunction with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc., Michigan Chapter.
(Section 811e of the Code prescribes a start-up fee for any new fund-raising plate in an amount equal to a three-year average of the cost to the SOS of developing a new plate, as calculated by the SOS on January 1 of each year, and requires the fee to be deposited in the Transportation Administration Collection Fund to be used for the cost of creating, producing, and issuing fund-raising plates. If the fee is not paid within 18 months after the effective date of the public act that authorizes the development and issuance of a fund-raising plate, the SOS may not create, produce, or issue the related plate. The SOS may not develop or issue a fund-raising plate unless a public act authorizing the plate identifies its purpose; creates a nonprofit fund or designates an existing nonprofit fund to receive the money raised through the sale of the plates and matching collector plates; and, if a fund is created, names the person or entity responsible for administering it.
Section 811f authorizes the SOS to issue a fund-raising plate instead of a standard registration plate upon application, which must be accompanied by a $25 fund-raising donation, payment of the regular vehicle registration tax prescribed in the Code, and a $10 service fee.
Section 811g allows the SOS to develop, market, promote, and sell a collector plate. The SOS may do so only with funds available from the collection of service fees under the Code.)
The bill also would create the Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness Fund within the State Treasury. 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 the fiscal year would have to remain in the Fund and could not lapse to the General Fund. The State Treasurer would have to be the administrator of the Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness Fund for auditing purposes.
The SOS would have to transfer the donation money from the sale of fund-raising plates recognizing sickle cell anemia education and treatment to the State Treasurer, who would have to credit the donation money to the Fund. The State Treasurer would have to disburse money in the Fund on a quarterly basis to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc., Michigan Chapter.
Proposed MCL 257.811aa
BACKGROUND
Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that changes the shape of a person's red blood cells from a disc shape to a crescent or sickle shape. The altered shape inhibits a blood cell's ability to carry oxygen properly throughout the body, which ultimately affects oxygen supply and can lead to sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is a disorder in which a person does not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Common symptoms of sickle cell anemia include fatigue, periodic episodes of pain caused by blocked blood flow, and frequent infections as a result of damage to the spleen.
According to its website, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America-Michigan Chapter was founded in 1971 with a mission of "improving the lives of individuals with sickle cell disease". The Michigan Chapter is located in Detroit, Michigan and provides medical services, community health services, social work services, and education and career counseling for those affected by sickle cell anemia in Michigan.
Legislative Analyst: Tyler VanHuyse
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would create a start-up cost to the Department of State; however, the start-up fee prescribed in the Code (currently estimated at $90,000) would have to be paid to the Department of State from the new Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness Fund proposed under the bill. The revenue generated from the fund-raising license plate would be deposited into the Fund, after which the State Treasurer would disburse payments from the Fund on a quarterly basis to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc., Michigan Chapter.
The bill would have no fiscal impact on local government.
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.