AB 2303: Vehicles: specialized license plates.
- Session Year: 2015-2016
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2016-04-14
Existing law authorizes a state agency to apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to sponsor a specialized license plate program, and requires the DMV to issue those license plates if the sponsoring state agency meets certain requirements. Existing law requires the DMV to charge specified fees related to the issuance of those plates and to deposit the fees, less the DMVs costs, in the Specialized License Plate Fund. Existing law requires that moneys in the fund be allocated, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the sponsoring agency in proportion to the amount that is attributable to the agencys specialized license plate program. Existing law authorizes the sponsoring agency to use these moneys to fund projects and programs that promote the state agencys official policy, mission, or work. Existing law also establishes the Active Transportation Program in the Department of Transportation for the purpose of encouraging increased use of active modes of transportation, such as biking and walking.
This bill would require the Department of Transportation to apply to the DMV, as specified, to sponsor a bicycle pathway license plate program, and would require the DMV to issue specialized license plates for that program if the Department of Transportation satisfies certain requirements. Notwithstanding the above-described provisions regarding fees for specialized plates, the bill would require the additional fees for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of these specialized license plates to be deposited, after the DMV deducts its administrative costs, in the State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund, to be available upon appropriation by the Legislature for the purpose of funding the Active Transportation Program. The bill would specify the appearance of the bicycle pathway license plate.
Existing law requires authorizes a state agency to apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to establish a California Legacy License Plate Program that creates a series of sponsor a specialized license plates that replicate plates from the states past. Existing law also requires the department to issue various other special-interest license plates sponsored by nonprofit organizations, as specified. plate program, and requires the DMV to issue those license plates if the sponsoring state agency meets certain requirements. Existing law requires the DMV to charge specified fees related to the issuance of those plates and to deposit the fees, less the DMVs costs, in the Specialized License Plate Fund. Existing law requires that moneys in the fund be allocated, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the sponsoring agency in proportion to the amount that is attributable to the agencys specialized license plate program. Existing law authorizes the sponsoring agency to use these moneys to fund projects and programs that promote the state agencys official policy, mission, or work. Existing law also establishes the Active Transportation Program in the Department of Transportation for the purpose of encouraging increased use of active modes of transportation, such as biking and walking.
This bill would require the department, if 7,500 applications are received before January 1, 2019, to add a specified license plate design utilized by the department between 1982 and 1987 to the California Legacy License Plate Program. The bill would also require the department, in consultation with the California Bicycle Coalition, Inc., to make available for issuance bicycle awareness license plates if certain conditions are satisfied. the Department of Transportation to apply to the DMV, as specified, to sponsor a bicycle pathway license plate program, and would require the DMV to issue specialized license plates for that program if the Department of Transportation satisfies certain requirements. Notwithstanding the above-described provisions regarding fees for specialized plates, the bill would require the additional fees for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of these specialized license plates to be deposited, after the DMV deducts its administrative costs, in the State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund, to be available upon appropriation by the Legislature for the purpose of funding the Active Transportation Program.
Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to establish a California Legacy License Plate Program that creates a series of specialized license plates that replicate plates from the states past. Existing law also requires the department to issue various other special-interest license plates sponsored by nonprofit organizations, as specified.
This bill would require the department, if 7,500 applications are received before January 1, 2019, to add a specified license plate design utilized by the department between 1982 and 1987 to the California Legacy License Plate Program. The bill would also require the department, in consultation with the California Bicycle Coalition, Inc., to make available for issuance bicycle awareness license plates if certain conditions are satisfied.
Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to establish a California Legacy License Plate Program that creates a series of specialized license plates that replicate plates from the states past.
This bill would require the department, if 7,500 applications are received before January 1, 2019, to add a specified license plate design utilized by the department between 1982 and 1987 to the California Legacy License Plate Program.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Twenty-one million adults walked for fun, exercise, or transportation and 2,970,000 youth walked, biked, or skated from school one or more times a week.
(b)There are 9,863 licensed professional cyclists who live in California, which is 16 percent of the national total and more than any other state.
(c)Death rates for California bicyclists and pedestrians are much higher than in the United States as a whole.
(d)The Active Transportation Program has had more project applications submitted than available funding every year since it was formed in 2013.
SEC. 2.Section 5170 is added to the Vehicle Code, immediately following Section 5168, to read:5170.(a)The Department of Transportation shall apply to the department, pursuant to Section 5156, to sponsor a bicycle pathway license plate program. The department shall issue specialized license plates for that program if the Department of Transportation complies with the requirements of Section 5156.
(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 5157, the additional fees prescribed by Section 5157 for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of the specialized license plates issued pursuant to this section shall be deposited, after the department deducts its administrative costs, in the State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund, to be available upon appropriation by the Legislature for the purpose of funding the Active Transportation Program established pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 2380) of Division 3 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(c)The design of the license plates issued under the bicycle pathway license plate program shall be identical, to the extent the department determines it to be reasonably feasible under current manufacturing processes, to the license plate design used by the department between 1982 and 1987, inclusive, that featured blue, orange, and red lettering, a white background, the phrase Golden State, and a sunset design.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Twenty-one million adults walked for fun, exercise, or transportation and 2,970,000 youth walked, biked, or skated from school one or more times a week.
(b)There are 9,863 licensed professional cyclists who live in California, which is 16 percent of the national total and more than any other state.
(c)Death rates for California bicyclists and pedestrians are much higher than in the United States as a whole.
(d)The Active Transportation Program has had more project applications submitted than available funding every year since it was formed in 2013.
(e)The Legacy License Plate Program has been well-received with the 1960s Vintage Plate entering production in 2015.
(f)It is the intent of the Legislature to further support bikeway planning-related activities through the Active Transportation Program.
(g)The Legislature further intends to initiate a statewide program to raise bicycle awareness.
SEC. 2.Section 5004.4 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:5004.4.(a)Subject to subdivision (c), the department shall add to the California Legacy License Plate Program, authorized pursuant to Section 5004.3, the license plate design utilized by the department between 1982 and 1987 that featured blue, orange, and red lettering, a white background, the phrase Golden State and a sunset design.
(b)An applicant for the specialized license plates described in subdivision (a), who shall be the owner or lessee of the vehicle on which the plates will be displayed, may choose to either accept a license plate character sequence assigned by the department or request a combination of letters or numbers, or both.
(c)In addition to the regular fees for an original registration or renewal of registration, the following additional fees shall be paid for the issuance, renewal, retention, or transfer of the specialized license plates:
(1)Fifty dollars ($50) for the original issuance of the plates.
(2)Forty dollars ($40) for a renewal of registration with the plates.
(3)Fifteen dollars ($15) for transfer of the plates to another vehicle.
(4)Thirty-five dollars ($35) for each substitute replacement plate.
(5)Thirty-eight dollars ($38), when the payment of renewal fees is not required as specified in Section 4000 and the holder of the specialized license plates retains the plates. The fee shall be due at the expiration of the registration year of the vehicle to which the specialized license plates were assigned. This paragraph shall not apply when a plate character sequence is assigned by the department pursuant to subdivision (b).
(d)The department shall not issue California Legacy License Plates for a vehicle that is exempt from the payment of registration fees pursuant to Section 9101 or 9103.
(e)(1)The department shall not add the license plate authorized by subdivision (a) until the department has received not less than 7,500 paid applications for plates. The department shall collect and hold applications for the plates. The department shall not issue the specialized plate authorized by subdivision (a) until it has received not less than 7,500 paid applications for plates within the time period prescribed in paragraph (2).
(2)The department shall have until January 1, 2019, to receive the required number of applications. If, after that date, 7,500 paid applications have not been received for the plate described in subdivision (a), the department shall immediately refund to all applicants all fees or deposits that have been collected.
(f)(1)Upon determination by the department that there are sufficient funds for the program, moneys gathered pursuant to this section shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the department for the necessary administrative costs incurred pursuant to this section.
(2)After deducting its administrative costs pursuant to paragraph (1), the department shall deposit any additional revenue derived from the issuance, renewal, retention, transfer, and substitution of the specialized license plates into the State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund, to be available upon appropriation by the Legislature for the purpose of funding active transportation planning.
SEC. 3.Section 5076 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:5076.(a)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Bicycle Awareness License Plate Act.
(b)Notwithstanding Section 5060.1, the department, in consultation with the California Bicycle Coalition, Inc., shall make available for issuance pursuant to this article bicycle awareness license plates if the requirements of this article are satisfied.
(c)In addition to the regular fees for an original registration or renewal of registration, the following additional fees shall be paid for the issuance, transfer, or renewal of the bicycle awareness license plates:
(1)For the original issuance of the plates, fifty dollars ($50).
(2)For a renewal of registration of the plates, forty dollars ($40).
(3)For the transfer of the special plates to another vehicle, fifteen dollars ($15).
(d)All fees collected under this section, after deduction of the departments costs in administering this section, shall be deposited in the California Bicycle Coalition Fund, which is hereby established in the General Fund. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the funds shall be allocated to the California Bicycle Coalition, Inc., to establish a statewide program to raise bicycle awareness, which shall include, but not be limited to, state and local educational activities promoting safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists.
SEC. 2.Section 5170 is added to the Vehicle Code, immediately following Section 5168, to read:5170.(a)The Department of Transportation shall apply to the department, pursuant to Section 5156, to sponsor a bicycle pathway license plate program. The department shall issue specialized license plates for that program if the Department of Transportation complies with the requirements of Section 5156.
(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 5157, the additional fees prescribed by Section 5157 for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of the specialized license plates issued pursuant to this section shall be deposited, after the department deducts its administrative costs, in the State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund, to be available upon appropriation by the Legislature for the purpose of funding the Active Transportation Program established pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 2380) of Division 3 of the Streets and Highways Code.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Twenty-one million adults walked for fun, exercise, or transportation and 2,970,000 youth walked, biked, or skated from school one or more times a week.
(b)There are 9,863 licensed professional cyclists who live in California, which is 16 percent of the national total and more than any other state.
(c)Death rates for California bicyclists and pedestrians are much higher than in the United States as a whole.
(d)The Active Transportation Program has had more project applications submitted than available funding every year since it was formed in 2013.
(e)The Legacy License Plate Program has been well-received with the 1960s Vintage Plate entering production in 2015.
(f)It is the intent of the Legislature to further support bikeway planning-related activities through the Active Transportation Program.
(g)The Legislature further intends to initiate a statewide program to raise bicycle awareness.
SECTION 1.SEC. 2.Section 5004.4 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:5004.4.(a)Subject to subdivision (c), the department shall add to the California Legacy License Plate Program, authorized pursuant to Section 5004.3, the license plate design utilized by the department between 1982 and 1987 that featured blue, orange, and red lettering, a white background, the phrase Golden State and a sunset design.
(b)An applicant for the specialized license plates described in subdivision (a), who shall be the owner or lessee of the vehicle on which the plates will be displayed, may choose to either accept a license plate character sequence assigned by the department or request a combination of letters or numbers numbers, or both.
(c)In addition to the regular fees for an original registration or renewal of registration, the following additional fees shall be paid for the issuance, renewal, retention, or transfer of the specialized license plates:
(1)Fifty dollars ($50) for the original issuance of the plates.
(2)Forty dollars ($40) for a renewal of registration with the plates.
(3)Fifteen dollars ($15) for transfer of the plates to another vehicle.
(4)Thirty-five dollars ($35) for each substitute replacement plate.
(5)Thirty-eight dollars ($38), when the payment of renewal fees is not required as specified in Section 4000 and the holder of the specialized license plates retains the plates. The fee shall be due at the expiration of the registration year of the vehicle to which the specialized license plates were assigned. This paragraph shall not apply when a plate character sequence is assigned by the department pursuant to subdivision (b).
(d)The department shall not issue California Legacy License Plates for a vehicle that is exempt from the payment of registration fees pursuant to Section 9101 or 9103.
(e)(1)The department shall not add the license plate authorized by subdivision (a) until the department has received not less than 7,500 paid applications for plates. The department shall collect and hold applications for the plates. The department shall not issue the specialized plate authorized by subdivision (a) until it has received not less than 7,500 paid applications for plates within the time period prescribed in paragraph (2).
(2)The department shall have until January 1, 2019, to receive the required number of applications. If, after that date, 7,500 paid applications have not been received for the plate described in subdivision (a), the department shall immediately refund to all applicants all fees or deposits that have been collected.
(f)(1)Upon determination by the department that there are sufficient funds for the program, moneys gathered pursuant to this section shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the department for the necessary administrative costs incurred pursuant to this section.
(2)After deducting its administrative costs pursuant to paragraph (1), the department shall deposit any additional revenue derived from the issuance, renewal, retention, transfer, and substitution of the specialized license plates into the State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund, to be available upon appropriation by the Legislature for the purpose of funding bikeways through the Active Transportation Program. active transportation planning.
SEC. 3.Section 5076 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:5076.(a)This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Bicycle Awareness License Plate Act.
(b)Notwithstanding Section 5060.1, the department, in consultation with the California Bicycle Coalition, Inc., shall make available for issuance pursuant to this article bicycle awareness license plates if the requirements of this article are satisfied.
(c)In addition to the regular fees for an original registration or renewal of registration, the following additional fees shall be paid for the issuance, transfer, or renewal of the bicycle awareness license plates:
(1)For the original issuance of the plates, fifty dollars ($50).
(2)For a renewal of registration of the plates, forty dollars ($40).
(3)For the transfer of the special plates to another vehicle, fifteen dollars ($15).
(d)All fees collected under this section, after deduction of the departments costs in administering this section, shall be deposited in the California Bicycle Coalition Fund, which is hereby established in the General Fund. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the funds shall be allocated to the California Bicycle Coalition, Inc., to establish a statewide program to raise bicycle awareness, which shall include, but not be limited to, state and local educational activities promoting safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists.
(a)Subject to subdivision (c), the department shall add to the California Legacy License Plate Program, authorized pursuant to Section 5004.3, the license plate design utilized by the department between 1982 and 1987 that featured blue, orange, and red lettering, a white background, the phrase Golden State and a sunset design.
(b)An applicant for the specialized license plates described in subdivision (a), who shall be the owner or lessee of the vehicle on which the plates will be displayed, may choose to either accept a license plate character sequence assigned by the department or request a combination of letters or numbers or both.
(c)In addition to the regular fees for an original registration or renewal of registration, the following additional fees shall be paid for the issuance, renewal, retention, or transfer of the specialized license plates:
(1)Fifty dollars ($50) for the original issuance of the plates.
(2)Forty dollars ($40) for a renewal of registration with the plates.
(3)Fifteen dollars ($15) for transfer of the plates to another vehicle.
(4)Thirty-five dollars ($35) for each substitute replacement plate.
(5)Thirty-eight dollars ($38), when the payment of renewal fees is not required as specified in Section 4000 and the holder of the specialized license plates retains the plates. The fee shall be due at the expiration of the registration year of the vehicle to which the specialized license plates were assigned. This paragraph shall not apply when a plate character sequence is assigned by the department pursuant to subdivision (b).
(d)The department shall not issue California Legacy License Plates for a vehicle that is exempt from the payment of registration fees pursuant to Section 9101 or 9103.
(e)(1)The department shall not add the license plate authorized by subdivision (a) until the department has received not less than 7,500 paid applications for plates. The department shall collect and hold applications for the plates. The department shall not issue the specialized plate authorized by subdivision (a) until it has received not less than 7,500 paid applications for plates within the time period prescribed in paragraph (2).
(2)The department shall have until January 1, 2019, to receive the required number of applications. If, after that date, 7,500 paid applications have not been received for the plate described in subdivision (a), the department shall immediately refund to all applicants all fees or deposits that have been collected.
(f)(1)Upon determination by the department that there are sufficient funds for the program, moneys gathered pursuant to this section shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the department for the necessary administrative costs incurred pursuant to this section.
(2)After deducting its administrative costs pursuant to paragraph (1), the department shall deposit any additional revenue derived from the issuance, renewal, retention, transfer, and substitution of the specialized license plates into the State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund, to be available upon appropriation by the Legislature for the purpose of funding bikeways through the Active Transportation Program.
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Date
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Status
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|---|---|
| Feb 18, 2016 | Read first time. To print. |
| Feb 19, 2016 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 20. |
| Mar 3, 2016 | Referred to Com. on TRANS. |
| Mar 28, 2016 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended. |
| Mar 29, 2016 | Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. |
| Apr 6, 2016 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended. |
| Apr 7, 2016 | Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. |
| Apr 13, 2016 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 11). |
| Apr 14, 2016 | Read second time and amended. |
| Apr 18, 2016 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| May 4, 2016 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| May 27, 2016 | In committee: Held under submission. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 2016 | Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| Bike East Bay | ** Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| Bike Santa Cruz County | ** Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| Bike SLO County | ** Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| California Bicycle Coalition | * Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| California Walks | * Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| Chico Velo | ** Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| Climate Plan | * Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| Inland Empire Biking Alliance | ** Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability | * Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| Livable Communities, Inc. | ** Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| Marin County Bicycle Coalition | ** Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| Napa County Bicycle Coalition | ** Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| Safe Routes to School National Partnership | * Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| San Diego County Bicycle Coalition | ** Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition | ** Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
| Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition | ** Support | Apr 11, 2016 |
Date of Hearing: May 4, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2303
Author:(Holden) – As Amended Ver:April 14, 2016
Policy Committee: | Transportation | Vote: | 16 - 0 |
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires Caltrans to apply to the DMV to sponsor a bicycle pathway specialized license plate program and allocates net revenues generated by these specialized license plates to the Active Transportation Program.
FISCAL EFFECT:
- Potential one-time special fund costs of approximately $440,000 to DMV to establish the specialized license plate program, including computer programming changes and updating forms. Pursuant to current law, DMV will make computer programming and form changes only after program applications meet a 7,500-application threshold. Therefore, the DMV will incur these costs only if it receives enough applications to require the DHCS to implement the program. The DMV will incur minor ongoing costs to continue issuing specialty license plates and renewals under the program. All of the DMV's initial and ongoing costs will be covered by a portion of the additional $50 fee paid for original specialized license plates and the additional $40 fee to renew such plates.
- Minor costs to Caltrans to submit the program application and license prototype to DMV, design and print the license plate application, and collect and hold applications and fees until 7,500 applications are received. The bill specifies that the license, to the extent feasible, should be identical to the license plate design used by DMV between 1982 and 1987, as described.
- Potential ongoing revenue to the Active Transportation Program, subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
- Current law requires that specified additional funds related to personalizing a specialized license plate must be deposited into the Environmental License Plate Fund. This bill instead directs all revenues to the Active Transportation Account, after deducting administrative costs. This would result in the diversion of any revenues associated with personalization from the Environmental License Plate Fund to the new account.
COMMENTS:
- Specialized License Plates. Prior to 2007, any new special interest license plate required specific legislative authorization. This practice was held to be unconstitutional in that the Legislature approved some of the plates, and rejected others, using no standardized or objective criteria for those decisions. Pursuant to AB 84 (Leslie)/Statutes of 2006, the DMV will issue specialized license plates when sponsored by a state agency, the plate's message and resulting revenues support that agency's program, and at least 7,500 paid license applications have been received. The 7,500-application threshold attempts to assure that DMV's startup costs are fully covered, by the portion of the registration fee surcharge directed to the department, and to avoid a proliferation of different types of plates, which can be troublesome from a law enforcement perspective.
- The ATP was created by SB 99 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review), Chapter 359, Statutes of 2013, by consolidating existing federal and state programs and funding, including the federal Transportation Alternatives Program, the state Bicycle Transportation Account, and the federal and state Safe Routes to School programs. AB 101 (Assembly Budget Committee), Chapter 354, Statutes of 2013, amended the 2013 Budget Act to in part appropriate $129.4 million for the ATP. Through this bill, the author intends to provide more resources to this oversubscribed program.
- Related Legislation. Currently there are six other bills in the legislative process that would direct a state agency to sponsor a specialized license plate for a specific cause. Three bills were all held on Suspense last year in Senate Appropriations: AB 63 (Bonilla) to raise money for school safety, AB 270 (Nazarian) to raise money for diabetes awareness, and AB 932 (Daly) to raise money for local parks and recreation grant programs. AB 1884 (Harper) to raise money for mental health awareness was passed by this Committee on March 14, 2016, with a 16-0 vote, and is currently awaiting a hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. AB 2131 (Maienschein) on today's committee agenda, would raise money for local food banks. AB 2253 (Grove), also on today's committee agenda, would raise money for veterans' programs.
- Prior Legislation. Since 2011, 12 bills have been introduced establishing specialized license plate program, of which four have been chaptered: Salton Sea restoration [AB 1096 (Nestande), Chapter 353, Statutes of 2014], kidney disease research [AB 2450 (Logue), Chapter 359, Statutes of 2014], breast cancer awareness [AB 49 (Buchanan), Chapter 351, Statutes of 2014], and domestic violence prevention [AB 2321 (Gomez), Chapter 358, Statutes of 2014].
Analysis Prepared by: Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: April 11, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2303 (
Author:Holden) – As Amended Ver:April 14, 2016
SUBJECT: Vehicles: specialized license plates
SUMMARY: Requires the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to sponsor a bicycle pathway license plate program. Allocates the revenues generated the bicycle pathway license plate program to the Active Transportation Program and specifies that the design of the license plates be identical to the design utilized by DMV between 1982 and 1987 that featured blue, orange, and red lettering, a white background, the phrase “Golden State” and a sunset design.
EXISTING LAW:
- Allows any state agency to apply to DMV to sponsor a specialized license plate program.
- Requires DMV to issue specialized license plates for that program if the agency complies with all statutory requirements.
- Prohibits DMV from establishing a specialized license plate program for an agency until it has received not less than 7,500 paid applications for that agency's specialized license plates.
- Requires the agency to collect and hold applications for the plates. Once the agency has received at least 7,500 applications, it must submit the applications, along with the necessary fees, to DMV.
- Prohibits advance payment to DMV of its estimated or actual administrative costs associated with the issuance of a particular specialized license plate from constituting compliance with the 7,500 application threshold requirement.
- Requires funds accruing to a sponsoring state agency from the sale of specialized license plates to be expended exclusively for projects and programs that promote that agency's official policy, mission, or work.
- Allows specialized license plates to feature a distinctive design, decal, or distinctive message in a two-inch by three-inch space to the left of the plate's numerical sequence and a space not larger than 5/8-inch in height below the numerical series.
- Establishes the Active Transportation Program for the purpose of encouraging increased use of active modes of transportation, such as biking and walking.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: Prior to 2007, any new specialty license plate required specific legislative authorization. That practice was held to be unconstitutional by the federal courts, as the Legislature approved some plates and rejected others, without using any standardized or objective criteria for those decisions. In response to the court decision, AB 84 (Leslie),
Chapter 454, Statutes of 2006, established the current specialized license plate program to provide a forum for government speech that promotes California's state policies. AB 84 excludes private organizations from seeking specialized license plates as a forum for private speech, and thus addresses the court's objection. The current specialized license plate program permits a state agency to initiate the development and sponsorship of a specialized plate, thus no additional legislation is required to authorize the creation of a new plate.
Plates created under the current program and the revenue they generate must publicize or promote a state agency, or the official policy, mission, or work of a state agency. Furthermore, the process requires that at least 7,500 paid applications must be received by the state agency prior to notifying DMV. This 7,500-application threshold was previously put into statute in an attempt to ensure that DMV's startup costs would be fully covered by the portion of the registration fee surcharge that is directed to DMV and to avoid a proliferation of different types of plates, which can be troublesome from a law enforcement perspective.
In regards to this bill, the author intends to provide additional resources to the State Highway Account’s oversubscribed Active Transportation Program. The author states that 28% of Californians ride a bicycle as an outdoor activity and California bicyclists and pedestrians face much higher death rates relative to the rest of the United States.
The Active Transportation Program was established in its current form in 2013 with the following goals: increase the proportion of trips accomplished by biking and walking, increase safety and mobility for non-motorized users, advance the active transportation efforts of regional agencies to achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals, enhance public health, ensure that disadvantaged communities fully share in the benefits of the program, and provide a broad spectrum of projects to benefit many types of active transportation users. In every year since 2013, the Active Transportation Program has consistently received project applications for a total amount of money greater than the amount available to the program. For example, in the second cycle of grants, awarded in 2015, 617 applications were submitted, requesting over $1 billion in funds. In that cycle approximately 207 projects were awarded totaling $359 million.
This bill would dedicate any revenues generated by the new specialized license plate program to the Active Transportation Program, providing an additional stream of resources.
Related legislation: Currently there are five other bills in the legislative process that would direct a state agency to sponsor a specialized license plate for a specific cause. Three bills, AB 63 (Bonilla) to raise money for school safety, AB 270 (Nazarian) to raise money for diabetes awareness, and AB 932 (Daly) to raise money for local parks and recreation grant programs passed out of this Committee with no ‘No’ votes and are currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee. AB 1884 (Harper) to raise money for mental health awareness was passed by this Committee on March 14, 2016, with a 16-0 vote, and is currently awaiting a hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. AB 2131 (Maienschein) would raise money for local food banks is scheduled to be heard by this committee on April 11, 2016.
AB 2253 (Grove) would require DMV to design and issue a special interest license plate in consultation with In God We Trust – America, Inc. AB 2253 is scheduled to be heard by this committee on April 11, 2016.
Previous legislation: Since 2011, 12 bills have been introduced directing a state agency to sponsor a specialized license plate for a variety of causes. Since 2014, four were passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. These bills would raise funds for Salton Sea restoration [AB 1096 (Nestande), Chapter 353, Statutes of 2014], kidney disease research [AB 2450 (Logue), Chapter 359, Statutes of 2014], breast cancer awareness [AB 49 (Buchanan), Chapter 351, Statutes of 2014], and domestic violence prevention [AB 2321 (Gomez), Chapter 358, Statutes of 2014]. None have yet gathered the necessary number of applications to enter production.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Bicycle Coalition (Sponsor)
Bike East Bay
Bike Santa Cruz County
Bike SLO County
Chico Velo
Inland Empire Biking Alliance
Livable Communities, Inc.
Marin County Bicycle Coalition
Napa County Bicycle Coalition
San Diego County Bicycle Coalition
Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Justin Behrens / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
Date of Hearing: April 11, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2303 (
Author:Holden) – As Amended Ver:April 6, 2016
SUBJECT: Vehicles: specialized license plates
SUMMARY: Requires the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to sponsor a bicycle pathway license plate program. Allocates that the revenues generated the bicycle pathway license plate program to the Active Transportation Program.
EXISTING LAW:
- Allows any state agency to apply to DMV to sponsor a specialized license plate program.
- Requires DMV to issue specialized license plates for that program if the agency complies with all statutory requirements.
- Prohibits DMV from establishing a specialized license plate program for an agency until it has received not less than 7,500 paid applications for that agency's specialized license plates.
- Requires the agency to collect and hold applications for the plates. Once the agency has received at least 7,500 applications, it must submit the applications, along with the necessary fees, to DMV.
- Prohibits advance payment to DMV of its estimated or actual administrative costs associated with the issuance of a particular specialized license plate from constituting compliance with the 7,500 application threshold requirement.
- Requires funds accruing to a sponsoring state agency from the sale of specialized license plates to be expended exclusively for projects and programs that promote that agency's official policy, mission, or work.
- Allows specialized license plates to feature a distinctive design, decal, or distinctive message in a two-inch by three-inch space to the left of the plate's numerical sequence and a space not larger than 5/8-inch in height below the numerical series.
- Establishes the Active Transportation Program for the purpose of encouraging increased use of active modes of transportation, such as biking and walking.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: Prior to 2007, any new specialty license plate required specific legislative authorization. That practice was held to be unconstitutional by the federal courts, as the Legislature approved some plates and rejected others, without using any standardized or objective criteria for those decisions. In response to the court decision, AB 84 (Leslie),
Chapter 454, Statutes of 2006, established the current specialized license plate program to provide a forum for government speech that promotes California's state policies. AB 84 excludes private organizations from seeking specialized license plates as a forum for private speech, and thus addresses the court's objection. The current specialized license plate program permits a state agency to initiate the development and sponsorship of a specialized plate, thus no additional legislation is required to authorize the creation of a new plate.
Plates created under the current program and the revenue they generate must publicize or promote a state agency, or the official policy, mission, or work of a state agency. Furthermore, the process requires that at least 7,500 paid applications must be received by the state agency prior to notifying DMV. This 7,500-application threshold was previously put into statute in an attempt to ensure that DMV's startup costs would be fully covered by the portion of the registration fee surcharge that is directed to DMV and to avoid a proliferation of different types of plates, which can be troublesome from a law enforcement perspective.
In regards to this bill, the author intends to provide additional resources to the State Highway Account’s oversubscribed Active Transportation Program. The author states that 28% of Californians ride a bicycle as an outdoor activity and California bicyclists and pedestrians face much higher death rates relative to the rest of the United States.
The Active Transportation Program was established in its current form in 2013 with the following goals: increase the proportion of trips accomplished by biking and walking, increase safety and mobility for non-motorized users, advance the active transportation efforts of regional agencies to achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals, enhance public health, ensure that disadvantaged communities fully share in the benefits of the program, and provide a broad spectrum of projects to benefit many types of active transportation users. In every year since 2013, the Active Transportation Program has consistently received project applications for a total amount of money greater than the amount available to the program. For example, in the second cycle of grants, awarded in 2015, 617 applications were submitted, requesting over $1 billion in funds. In that cycle approximately 207 projects were awarded totaling $359 million.
This bill would dedicate any revenues generated by the new specialized license plate program to the Active Transportation Program, providing an additional stream of resources.
Proposed author’s amendment: Based on the popularity and success of the California Legacy License Plate Program, through which DMV issues license plates that replicate the look of California license plates from the state’s past, the author wishes to specify that that the design of the bicycle pathway license plate shall resemble a past design used by DMV. The author proposes an amendment to require that the design of the license plates issued under the bicycle pathway license plate program be identical, to the extent DMV determines it to be reasonably feasible under current manufacturing processes, to the license plate design utilized by DMV between 1982 and 1987 that featured blue, orange, and red lettering, a white background, the phrase “Golden State” and a sunset design.
Related legislation: Currently there are five other bills in the legislative process that would direct a state agency to sponsor a specialized license plate for a specific cause. Three bills, AB 63 (Bonilla) to raise money for school safety, AB 270 (Nazarian) to raise money for diabetes awareness, and AB 932 (Daly) to raise money for local parks and recreation grant programs passed out of this Committee with no ‘No’ votes and are currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee. AB 1884 (Harper) to raise money for mental health awareness was passed by this Committee on March 14, 2016, with a 16-0 vote, and is currently awaiting a hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. AB 2131 (Maienschein) would raise money for local food banks is scheduled to be heard by this committee on April 11, 2016.
AB 2253 (Grove) would require DMV to design and issue a special interest license plate in consultation with In God We Trust – America, Inc. AB 2253 is scheduled to be heard by this committee on April 11, 2016.
Previous legislation: Since 2011, 12 bills have been introduced directing a state agency to sponsor a specialized license plate for a variety of causes. Since 2014, four were passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. These bills would raise funds for Salton Sea restoration [AB 1096 (Nestande), Chapter 353, Statutes of 2014], kidney disease research [AB 2450 (Logue), Chapter 359, Statutes of 2014], breast cancer awareness [AB 49 (Buchanan), Chapter 351, Statutes of 2014], and domestic violence prevention [AB 2321 (Gomez), Chapter 358, Statutes of 2014]. None have yet gathered the necessary number of applications to enter production.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Bicycle Coalition (Sponsor)
Bike East Bay
Bike Santa Cruz County
Bike SLO County
Chico Velo
Inland Empire Biking Alliance
Livable Communities, Inc.
Marin County Bicycle Coalition
Napa County Bicycle Coalition
San Diego County Bicycle Coalition
Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Justin Behrens / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
Discussed in Hearing
4MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Transportation and Housing
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):
