HB1309 (2012) Detail

Establishing a special number plate to support public elementary and secondary schools.


HB 1309-FN-A – AS INTRODUCED

2012 SESSION

12-2637

03/04

HOUSE BILL 1309-FN-A

AN ACT establishing a special number plate to support public elementary and secondary schools.

SPONSORS: Rep. Suzanne Smith, Graf 7; Rep. Cooney, Graf 7; Rep. Knox, Carr 4

COMMITTEE: Transportation

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a special number plate to support public elementary and secondary schools. Revenue from the plate is distributed to school districts to fund extracurricular literacy enrichment and fine arts programs.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12-2637

03/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT establishing a special number plate to support public elementary and secondary schools.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Subparagraph; General Revenue; Exceptions. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (307) the following new subparagraph:

(308) Moneys deposited in the education number plate fund under RSA 261:89-e.

2 New Section; Special Number Plate to Support Public Elementary and Secondary Schools. Amend RSA 261 by inserting after section 89-d the following new section:

261:89-e Special Number Plate to Support Public Elementary and Secondary Schools.

I. The director is hereby authorized to issue special number plates to support public elementary and secondary schools, in lieu of other number plates. The commissioner shall determine the design of these special plates. The plates shall retain the “live free or die” logo. Such plates shall be issued only upon application and upon payment of a $40 fee that shall be in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee and any other number plate fees otherwise required. Plates shall be renewed on an annual basis for $25 per set. The cost of replacement number plates shall be identical to the cost of initial number plates. Plates may be used on passenger motor vehicles and recreation vehicles.

II. There is established the education number plate fund which shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the department of education. The state treasurer may invest moneys in the fund as provided by law and all interest received on such investment shall be credited to the fund. The department of education shall annually disburse moneys in the fund to public elementary and secondary schools; disbursements shall be pro rata based on average daily membership in residence and shall be used exclusively to fund extracurricular literacy enrichment and fine arts programs. Of the fees collected under paragraph I, the department shall retain an amount as is necessary to recover production and administrative costs as approved by the fiscal committee of the general court, and the remaining funds shall be paid to the state treasurer for deposit in the education number plate fund.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.

LBAO

12-2637

11/17/11

HB 1309-FN-A - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT establishing a special number plate to support public elementary and secondary schools.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Department of Safety states this bill will increase state revenue by $177,000 in FY 2013, and $110,625 in FY 2014 and each year thereafter. The Department states this bill will increase state highway fund expenditures by $125,764 in FY 2013, and $15,092 in FY 2014. The Department states this bill will increase local revenue by $51,236 in FY 2013, $125,717 in FY 2014, and $110,625 in FY 2015 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county revenues, or county and local expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

    The Department of Safety states this bill establishes number plates supporting New Hampshire public elementary and secondary schools. The proposed legislation states such plates shall be issued for an initial $40 fee in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee and any other number plate fee required. Renewal of these plates will require an annual fee of $25. Of the initial $40 fee, the Department of Safety shall retain an amount sufficient to recover production and administrative costs with the remainder being deposited in the newly created dedicated education number plate fund. The Department assumes 4,425 plates would be issued in FY 2013 and renewed each year thereafter, and estimates annual revenues and production and administrative expenditures as follows:

                    FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

    Estimated Plate Revenue

            4,425 pairs of plates x $40 initial $177,000 $0 $0 $0 4,425 pairs of plates x $25 renewal $0 $110,625 $110,625 $110,625

    Production & Administrative Costs

            Programming (612 hrs x $175/hr) ($107,100) $0 $0 $0

            Sheeting (4 rolls x $2,000/roll) ($8,000) $0 $0 $0

            Mailing (4,425 pairs x $2.41/pair) ($10,664) $0 $0 $0

    Production & Administrative Costs ($125,764) $0 $0 $0

    Revenue less cost – Deposited in the

    Education Number Plate Fund $51,236 $110,625 $110,625 $110,625

    The $177,000 revenue increase in FY 2013 would consist of a $125,764 increase in state highway fund revenue, and a $51,236 increase in revenue to the education number plate fund. The entire revenue increase in FY 2014 and each year thereafter would go to the education number plate fund. The highway fund revenue increase would also be included in the calculation of the distribution to municipalities, in accordance with RSA 235:23, in the form of local highway aid. This would result in a further increase in highway fund expenditures of $15,902 (12% + $125,764) in FY 2014.

      The Department of Education states the bill requires it to annually disburse the funds in the education number plate fund account on a pro rata basis according to average daily membership in residence to be used to fund extracurricular literacy enrichment and fine arts programs. The Department states it does not possess the information necessary to estimate the revenue or expenditure amounts associated with this number plate program, nor can project the amount to be disbursed each year from the dedicated fund. Instead, it is relying on information from the Department of Safety. Based on the Department of Safety estimates, local revenues will increase by $51,236 in FY 2013, $125,717 ($110,625 from the education number plate fund + $15,902 of local highway aid) in FY 2014, and $110,625 in FY 2015 and each year thereafter.