Revision: Jan. 10, 2019, 3:33 p.m.
HB 472-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2019 SESSION
19-0812
11/05
HOUSE BILL 472-FN
AN ACT relative to special number plates for certain veterans.
SPONSORS: Rep. DeSimone, Rock. 14; Rep. Baldasaro, Rock. 5; Rep. Belanger, Hills. 27; Rep. L. Ober, Hills. 37; Rep. Major, Rock. 14; Rep. Harb, Rock. 14; Sen. Carson, Dist 14
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows for the issuance of special number plates for each car owned by a veteran.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
19-0812
11/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
AN ACT relative to special number plates for certain veterans.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Motor Vehicles; Number Plates; Special Number Plates for Certain Veterans. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 261:86, I to read as follows:
I. The department shall furnish one set of special number plates, designed by the director with the approval of the commissioner, for [one] each motor vehicle owned by a veteran, who may be listed as the first or second owner on the certificate of title or certificate of registration, who:
2 Motor Vehicles; Number Plates; Special Number Plates for Veterans. Amend RSA 261:87-b to read as follows:
261:87-b Special Number Plates for Veterans.
I. The director is hereby authorized to issue special number plates to be used on each motor [vehicles] vehicle owned by any [veterans] veteran of the United States armed services, in lieu of other number plates. The design of these special plates shall be determined by the commissioner, and shall be distinct from the design or designs of those plates issued under RSA 261:86. Such plates shall be issued only to veterans as defined in RSA 21:50, I(a) upon application, proof of veteran status in a form authorized by RSA 21:50, I(b), and payment of the regular motor vehicle registration fee and the $4 per plate fees under RSA 261:75. The director shall also issue such plates to any person providing proof of honorable discharge from the armed services of any nation allied with the United States during World War II and proof of such person's service during World War II. Renewals of such special number plates shall be charged the fee assessed for standard motor vehicles as prescribed under RSA 261:141. The plates furnished pursuant to this section are non-transferable and shall expire upon the death of the veteran, except that the surviving spouse may use the plates for one year after the death of the veteran and shall be eligible to replace the plates during that year at no charge under RSA 261:75.
II. For purposes of this section, a motor vehicle is owned by a veteran if the veteran is the motor vehicle's owner under RSA 259:72, I, or if the legal ownership of the motor vehicle is held by a trust established by the veteran and the veteran has use of the motor vehicle or the motor vehicle is used for the transportation of the veteran. The director shall establish the documentation required for a motor vehicle held in trust to be eligible for plates under this section. [The director shall not issue more than one set of plates under this section to any trust.] A trustee of the trust or the administrator of the estate may be fined up to $500 for failing to return within 60 days of the death of the veteran any plates issued under this section for a motor vehicle held in trust.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
19-0812
1/8/19
HB 472-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to special number plates for certain veterans.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | ||||
STATE: | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 | |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Revenue | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | |
Expenditures | $56,000 | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | |
Funding Source: | [ ] General [ ] Education [ X ] Highway [ X ] Other - *Restricted Cost of Collections | ||||
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LOCAL: |
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Revenue | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | |
Expenditures | Indeterminable Increase | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
METHODOLOGY:
This bill expands the issuance of special number plates for a single car owned by a veteran to include multiple cars. Under current law, veterans who qualify for Purple Heart, Pearl Harbor, Former Prisoner of War, and Disabled Veteran plates are allowed one set of plates free of charge. Since this bill would expand that benefit to include additional vehicles owned by veterans exempt from charges, this bill could decrease highway fund revenue. The Department of Safety reports currently 2,800 special number plates are issued free of charge to qualifying veterans, but the Department is unable to determine how many additional vehicles would be covered under this bill. Therefore, highway fund revenue will be impacted by an indeterminable amount. The Department reports this bill may also decrease local revenue, due to municipalities typically waiving the local portion of the vehicle registration for veterans exempt from state charges. Additionally, at least 12 percent of total highway fund revenue is allocated to local highway aid pursuant to RSA 235:23, so a decrease in highway fund revenue will lower local highway aid.
In FY 2020, the Department anticipates a $56,000 increase in reprogramming expenses for the MAAP and VISION systems due to the change in fees under this bill. Municipalities may also incur an increase in expenses for FY 2020 if they need to reprogram their registration systems.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Safety