SB1165: SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL IN COMMITTEE (Date Completed: 9-27-22) - SPECIAL REG. PLATES; ALLOW SPOUSES TO APPLY

CONTENT

Senate Bill 1165 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow the spouse of a person who was or is a member of the National Guard or the Armed Forces Reserve, or the spouse of a person who was a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces, to apply with the Secretary of State (SOS) for the appropriate special registration plate under the Code.

Senate Bill 1183 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow the spouse of a person who was a United States Armed Forces Pearl Harbor Survivor or a Purple Heart Medal recipient to apply with the SOS for the appropriate special registration plate under the Code.

Senate Bill 1183 is tie-barred to Senate Bill 1165.

Senate Bill 1165

Under the Code, a person who was or is a member of the National Guard or the Armed Forces Reserve may apply to the SOS for a special registration plate that displays an appropriate vignette preceding the registration numbers, and in the case of a National Guard member, the words "national guard" inscribed beneath the numbers. In addition, a person who was a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces who has retired or been granted honorable discharge from that branch and who is not otherwise eligible for a special registration plate under the Code may apply to the SOS for a special registration plate that displays an appropriate vignette preceding the registration numbers. Under the bill, a person whose spouse met the membership requirements described above could apply to the SOS for the applicable special registration plate.

The Code requires an application for a special registration plate to be accompanied by any proof of the applicant being or having been a member as described above. The bill would require a spouse's application for a special registration plate to be accompanied by any proof of his or her spouse being or having been a member as described above.

The bill also would allow the surviving spouse of a person who was a member of the National Guard or United States Armed Forces Reserve or a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces to use a special registration plate issue as described above to use a special registration plate after the death of the veteran. The surviving spouse could renew the special registration plate after the death of the veteran as prescribed by the Code. If applicable, a surviving spouse would have to apply for registration of the vehicle upon which the surviving spouse wished to place the special registration plate before renewing the plate.

Senate Bill 1183

Under the Code, a person who was a member of the United States Armed Forces during 1941, was stationed at a United States military or naval establishment at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands, and survived the attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor, may apply to the SOS for a special registration plate inscribed with special identification numbers and the words "Pearl Harbor Survivor". The Code also allows a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal to apply to the SOS for a special registration plate inscribed with special identification numbers and the words "combat wounded veteran" beneath the registration number. Under the bill, a person whose spouse met the membership requirements described above could apply to the SOS for the applicable special registration plate.

The Code requires application for a special registration plate as described above to be accompanied by any proof that the SOS may require of the applicant being or having been a prisoner or war, a Pearl Harbor Survivor, or a Purple Heart Medal recipient. The bill would require a spouse's application for a special registration plate to be accompanied by any proof of his or her spouse being or having been a member as described above that the SOS may require. In addition, the bill would require the application for a special registration plate for a person who was a member of the United States Armed Forces during World War I to be on a form prescribed by the SOS and to be accompanied by any proof of the applicant having been a World War I veteran that the SOS required.

Under the bill, the surviving spouse of a person who was a member of the United States Armed Forces during 1941, was stationed at a United States military or naval establishment at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands, and survived the attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor, or the surviving spouse of a person who was a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal, could use a special registration plate issued as described above after the death of the veteran. The spouse could renew the plate after the death of the veteran in the same manner as provided by the Code. If applicable, a surviving spouse would have to apply for registration of the vehicle upon which the surviving spouse wished to place the special registration plate before renewing the plate.

MCL 257.803i (S.B. 1165) Legislative Analyst: Tyler P. VanHuyse

257.803e (S.B. 1183)

FISCAL IMPACT

The bills would not have a significant fiscal impact on the State or local units of government. The SOS's current practice for registration plates for current members or veterans of the US Armed forces, foreign wars, Purple Heart recipients, and the National Guard or US Armed Forces Reserves is not to charge the $5 service fee for specially designated registration plates. The bill would allow the spouse of a current member or veteran, or the survivor of a spouse who was a member of the aforementioned Armed Forces or Reserves groups, to continue to receive and display their specially designated registration plates without paying the fee.

The SOS already accounts for the loss in revenue from the exemption of the $5 service fee in its annual budget. The proposed changes could increase the number exemptions of the $5 service fee for those meeting the waiver criteria, but the lost revenue should be minimal and would be absorbed within annual appropriations.

Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco, Jr.

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.