"CHOOSE LIFE" FUND-RAISING PLATE                                                        S.B. 84 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 84 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Senator Patrick J. Colbeck

Committee:  Transportation

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to do the following:

-- Require the Secretary of State (SOS), by October 1, 2015, to develop and issue a fund-raising license plate recognizing the Choose Life Michigan Fund.

-- Create the "Choose Life Fund" in the State Treasury and require donations for the plates to be deposited into the Fund.

-- Require the money in the proposed Fund to be disbursed to the Choose Life Michigan Fund for distribution to tax-exempt eligible nonprofit organizations to be spent on projects that promote alternatives to abortion.

-- Specify that "eligible nonprofit organizations" would include crisis pregnancy centers, homes for pregnant women, and other organizations that provide practical support to pregnant women, provide outreach to at-risk populations, and promote life-saving programs and projects as alternatives to abortion.

-- Specify that "projects that promote alternatives to abortion" would include media campaigns; specialty outreach to at-risk populations, including minorities, teenagers, college-aged women, and post-abortive women; and campaigns to promote adoption.

The bill would take effect 90 days after it was enacted.

Proposed MCL 257.811z                                                 Legislative Analyst:  Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would create a start-up cost to the Department of State; however, the start-up fee of $15,000 prescribed in the Code would have to be paid to the Department of State from the Choose Life Fund proposed by the bill. The revenue generated from the fund-raising license plate would be deposited into the Fund, after which the State Treasurer would disburse payments from the Fund on a yearly basis to the Choose Life Michigan Fund.

The bill would have no fiscal impact on local government.

Date Completed:  3-9-15                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.