HB 502-FN – AS INTRODUCED
2011 SESSION
06/03
HOUSE BILL 502-FN
AN ACT relative to low-digit number plates.
SPONSORS: Rep. Soltani, Merr 8
This bill establishes a procedure and fees for the issuance of low-digit license plates.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11-0776
06/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven
AN ACT relative to low-digit number plates.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivision; Low Digit License Plates. Amend RSA 261 by inserting after section 97-f the following new subdivision:
261:97-g Definition. In this subdivision, “low-digit license plate” means any license plate having a number from 0 to 9,999 with no letters or other characters.
261:97-h Fee Schedule. The commissioner shall establish fees for low-digit license plates within the following ranges:
I. For one-digit numbers, $250 to $500.
II. For 2-digit numbers, $100 to $400.
III. For 3-digit numbers, $50 to $300.
IV. For 4-digit numbers, no less than the fee for vanity number plates under RSA 261:89, and no more than $250.
261:97-i Distribution of Plates. The commissioner shall order a one-time recall of all outstanding low-digit license plates. Such plates shall be reissued and distributed by lottery. If the demand for low-digit plates is greater than the number of plates available, the commissioner shall establish a waiting list for the assignment of plates as they become available. Any person may place his or her name on such list for an annual fee of $5.
261:97-j Rulemaking. The commissioner shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to:
I. The fees for low-digit number plates under RSA 261:97-h.
II. The recall procedure for outstanding low-digit plates under RSA 261:97-i
III. Establishing a lottery system and waiting list for low-digit plates under RSA 261:97-i.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.
LBAO
11-0776
Revised 01/31/11
HB 502 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to low-digit number plates.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Safety states this bill will increase state revenue by $60,725 in FY 2012, and $121,450 in FY 2013 and each year thereafter, and increase state highway fund expenditures by $117,790 in FY 2012, and by indeterminable amounts in FY 2013 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local revenue or expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Safety states this bill revises the policies and procedures for the issuance of low-digit number plates. The Department states the legislation would require a recall of outstanding low-digit plates, setting up a lottery system to issue the low-digit plates, and establishing a waiting list if the demand for low-digit plates is higher than the plates available. The Department also states this bill establishes an annual fee ranging from $40 to $500, depending on the plate number, for each set of low-digit number plates for ‘passenger’ vehicles, and the Department assumes, as with vanity plate fees, this revenue will be deposited in the driver training fund up to the point at which all fees in such fund equal the amount of money estimated by the general court as available for expenditure for the driver training program from that fund for that fiscal year. The Department states any amount over that would then be deposited in the general fund.
The Department estimates that it might issue 100% of the 1 digit number plates for a total of 9 sets of pates, 75% of the 2 digit number plates for a total of 67 sets of plates, 50% of the 3 digit number plates for a total of 450 sets of plates, and 25% of the 4 digit number plates for a total of 2,250 sets of plates. The Department also estimated state revenue assuming the lowest fee in the bill’s allowable range would be adopted in rules for each of the four sets of number ranges, and that only half of the plates would be issued in FY 2012, as it would take some time to withdraw all current plates, set up lottery for the new plates, and issue the new plates. The Department estimates the revenue as follows:
Number Est. Annual
of Plates Fee Revenue
One Digit (100%) 9 $250 $ 2,250
Two Digit (75%) 67 $100 $ 6,700
Three Digit (50%) 450 $ 50 $ 22,500
Four Digit (25%) 2,250 $ 40 $ 90,000
Totals 2,776 $121,450
During FY 2012, the Department also estimates it would take 612 hours of consultant work at $175 per hour, or $107,100 to make the necessary programming changes to implement the bill’s requirements, 2 rolls of sheeting at $2,000 per roll, or $4,000, for the new plates, and mailing costs of $2.41 per set of plates for all 2,776 estimated plates, or $6,690. The Department cannot estimate costs in subsequent fiscal years, as it cannot estimate additional demands for low-digit plates, although it assumes additional plates will be issued and others will be turned in.