MI PET ALLIANCE FUNDRAISING PLATE S.B. 106:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 106 (as introduced 2-6-25)
Sponsor: Senator Dayna Polehanki
Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
MI PET ALLIANCE FUNDRAISING PLATE S.B. 106:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 106 (as introduced 2-6-25)
Sponsor: Senator Dayna Polehanki
Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to do the following:
-- Require the Secretary of State (SOS) to develop a fundraising plate, in conjunction with the Michigan Pet Alliance (MPA), to support efforts to improve the welfare of companion animals.
-- Create the Protecting Michigan's Pets Fund (Fund) within the State Treasury and require money from the sale of these fundraising plates to be deposited into the Fund.
-- Require the State Treasurer to disburse money in the Fund on a quarterly basis to the MPA.
Specifically, the bill would require the SOS to develop under section 811e and issue under section 811f a fundraising plate recognizing the need to address the overpopulation of the State's companion animals and to support the humane care and health care of homeless and abused animals in the State's shelters and rescues. The SOS, in conjunction with the MPA, would have to design the fundraising plate.
(Section 811e of the Code prescribes a start-up fee for any new fundraising plate in an amount equal to a three-year average of the cost to the SOS of developing a new plate, as calculated by the SOS on January 1 of each year, and requires the fee to be deposited in the Transportation Administration Collection Fund to be used for the cost of creating, producing, and issuing fundraising plates. If the fee is not paid within 18 months after the effective date of the public act that authorizes the development and issuance of a fundraising plate, the SOS may not create, produce, or issue the related plate. The SOS may not develop or issue a fund-raising plate unless a public act authorizing the plate identifies its purpose; creates a nonprofit fund or designates an existing nonprofit fund to receive the money raised through the sale of the plates and matching collector plates; and, if a fund is created, names the person or entity responsible for administering it.
Section 811f authorizes the SOS to issue a fundraising plate instead of a standard registration plate upon application, which must be accompanied by a $25 fund-raising donation, payment of the regular vehicle registration tax prescribed in the Code, and a $10 service fee.
Section 811g allows the SOS to develop, market, promote, and sell a collector plate. The SOS may do so only with funds available from the collection of service fees under the Code.)
The bill also would create the Fund within the State Treasury. The State Treasurer could receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the Fund. The State Treasurer would have to direct the investment of the Fund and credit it interest and earnings from Fund investments. Money in the Fund at the close of the fiscal year would have to remain in the
Fund and could not lapse to the General Fund. The State Treasurer would be the administrator of the Fund for auditing purposes.
The SOS would have to transfer the donation money from the sale of fundraising plates to the State Treasurer, who would have to credit the donation money to the Fund. The State Treasurer would have to disburse money in the Fund on a quarterly basis to the MPA.
PREVIOUS LEGISLATION
(This section does not provide a comprehensive account of previous legislative efforts on this subject matter.)
The bill is a reintroduction of Senate Bill 1184 of the 2023-2024 Legislative Session. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure but received no further action.
BACKGROUND
According to its website, the MPA is a nonprofit membership association composed of Michigan's animal welfare organizations. The MPA sets standards for its members; provides training, education, and assistance; and advocates for changes in State law, regulations, and local ordinances to support companion animal welfare.
Legislative Analyst: Abby Schneider
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost to create a fund-raising specialty plate currently averages an estimated $90,000 for design and production of the plate. This start-up cost would first need to be paid by the MPA before the Department of State (DOS) would begin production and issuance of the Protecting Michigan Pets plate.
Upon issuance of a fund-raising plate, the applicant would have to submit a $25 fund-raising donation ($10 donation for a renewal) along with the applicable vehicle registration tax. The fund-raising donations would be deposited into the Protecting Michigan Pets Fund, after which the State Treasurer would disburse payments from the Fund on a quarterly basis to the MPA. The vehicle registration tax revenue would be deposited into the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF) while any other fee revenue, aside from the fund-raising donation, would be deposited into the Transportation Administration Collection Fund. Finally, there could be additional costs to the DOS associated with the development and issuance of the new plate; however, these costs should be minimal and absorbable within annual appropriations. The MTF likely would not see much of an increase in revenues as most applicants for the new plate already are likely paying the vehicle registration tax, which would not be affected under this bill.