Complete to 6-28-00

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 5891 AND 5892 AS INTRODUCED 6-20-00

House Bills 5891 and 5892 would create a Michigan conservation districts specialty license plate, and designate the money raised from their sale to the Michigan conservation districts fund. The bills are tie-barred to each other.

House Bill 5891 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.811d) to require the secretary of state to offer license plate applicants a conservation districts registration plate, instead of a standard motor vehicle license plate. The plate would be designed by a one or more Michigan conservation districts, in a process determined by the secretary of state.

Under the bill, those making application for the new registration plate bearing the conservation districts design would be required to follow the existing motor vehicle registration and re-registration procedures, except that a service fee would be added to the annual vehicle registration tax: $25 for the original plate ($3 for the first month and $2 per month for each additional month during the registration period); and, a $10 fee upon renewal. At registration, the secretary of state could issue a temporary permit (without fee) for a period not to exceed 60 days, to be used until the conservation districts plate was available. At renewal, the secretary of state could issue an expiration tab.

House Bill 5891 would require that the conservation districts registration plate service fees collected by the secretary of state be kept in a separate account, and on a quarterly basis transferred to the Michigan Conservation Districts Fund. Under the bill, these funds could be used exclusively for the purpose of fulfilling the responsibilities of Michigan conservation districts as they are described under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The secretary of state also would be required first to deduct the manufacturing and administrative costs, including the administrative costs associated with issuing, replacing, and substituting the specialty plates.

House Bill 5892 would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (MCL 324.9315) to create the Michigan conservation districts fund within the state treasury. Under the bill, the state treasurer could receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the fund, including but not limited to revenues received from the sale of the Michigan conservation districts license plate. The state treasurer would direct the investment of the fund, and credit to the

fund interest and earnings from fund investments. Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year would remain in the fund, and not lapse to the general fund. The bill would direct the department to expend money from the fund, upon appropriation, only for the purpose of fulfilling the responsibilities of Michigan conservation districts as described under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.

Analyst: J. Hunault

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.