GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

 SESSION 2011

H                                                                                                                                                   2

HOUSE BILL 957

Committee Substitute Favorable 6/5/12

 

Short Title:        Authorize Various Special Plates.

(Public)

Sponsors:

 

Referred to:

 

May 17, 2012

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to authorize the division of motor vehicles to issue various special registration plates.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1. G.S. 20-79.4(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      Types. - The Division shall issue the following types of special registration plates:

()          Flag of the United States of America. - Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate shall bear an image of a waving American flag and the letters "AF" on the right side of the plate. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.

()          North Carolina Cattlemen's Association. - Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate shall bear the seal of the North Carolina Cattlemen's Association.

(172)    Register of Deeds. - Issuable to a register of deeds. The plate shall bear the words "Register of Deeds" and the letter "R" followed by a number representing the county of the register of deeds. The number of a county shall be the order of the county in an alphabetical list of counties that assigns number one to the first county in the list. A plate issued to a retired register of deeds shall bear the phrase "Register of Deeds, Retired," the letter "R" followed by a number that indicates the county where the register of deeds served, and the letter "X," indicating the retired status of the register of deeds.

()          RiverLink. - Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate shall bear the phrase "RiverLink.org" and a logo representing RiverLink, Inc.

()          Town of Matthews. -  Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate shall bear a graphic selected by the Town of Matthews and approved by the Division.

(224)    Vietnam Veterans of America. - Issuable to a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America. The plate shall bear the words "Vietnam Veterans of America" or "VVA" and the emblem of the VVA. A person may obtain from the Division a special registration plate under this subdivision for a motor vehicle or a motorcycle registered in that person's name. The registration fees and the restrictions on the issuance of a specialized registration plate for a motorcycle are the same as for any motor vehicle. The Division may not issue either type of the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the particular type of plate.

…."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 20-79.7(a) reads as rewritten:

"(a)       Fees. - Upon request, the Division shall provide and issue free of charge a single Legion of Valor, 100% Disabled Veteran, and Ex-Prisoner of War registration plate to a recipient of a Legion of Valor award, a 100% disabled veteran, and an ex-prisoner of war each year. The preceding special registration plates are subject to the regular motor vehicle registration fees in G.S. 20-88, if the registered weight of the vehicle is greater than 6,000 pounds. All other special registration plates are subject to the regular motor vehicle registration fee in G.S. 20-87 or G.S. 20-88 plus an additional fee in the following amount:

Special Plate                                                                 Additional Fee Amount

American Red Cross                                                                            $30.00

Animal Lovers                                                                                     $30.00

Arthritis Foundation                                                                             $30.00

ARTS NC                                                                                           $30.00

Back Country Horsemen of NC                                                           $30.00

Boy Scouts of America                                                                        $30.00

Brenner Children's Hospital                                                                  $30.00

Carolina Raptor Center                                                                        $30.00

Carolinas Credit Union Foundation                                                       $30.00

Carolinas Golf Association                                                                   $30.00

Coastal Conservation Association                                                        $30.00

Coastal Land Trust                                                                              $30.00

Crystal Coast                                                                                       $30.00

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden                                                            $30.00

El Pueblo                                                                                             $30.00

Farmland Preservation                                                                         $30.00

First in Forestry                                                                                   $30.00

Girl Scouts                                                                                           $30.00

Greensboro Symphony Guild                                                               $30.00

Historical Attraction                                                                             $30.00

Home Care and Hospice                                                                      $30.00

Home of American Golf                                                                       $30.00

HOMES4NC                                                                                      $30.00

Hospice Care                                                                                      $30.00

In God We Trust                                                                                 $30.00

Maggie Valley Trout Festival                                                                $30.00

Mountains-to-Sea Trail                                                                        $30.00

NC Civil War                                                                                      $30.00

NC Coastal Federation                                                                        $30.00

NC Veterinary Medical Association                                                     $30.00

National Kidney Foundation                                                                 $30.00

North Carolina 4-H Development Fund                                                $30.00

North Carolina Cattlemen's Association                                                $30.00

North Carolina Emergency Management Association                            $30.00

North Carolina Green Industry Council                                                 $30.00

North Carolina Libraries                                                                      $30.00

Outer Banks Preservation Association                                                  $30.00

Pamlico-Tar River Foundation                                                              $30.00

P.E.O. Sisterhood                                                                                $30.00

Personalized                                                                                        $30.00

Retired Legislator                                                                                 $30.00

RiverLink                                                                                             $30.00

Ronald McDonald House                                                                     $30.00

Share the Road                                                                                    $30.00

S.T.A.R.                                                                                              $30.00

State Attraction                                                                                    $30.00

Stock Car Racing Theme                                                                     $30.00

Support NC Education                                                                        $30.00

Support Our Troops                                                                            $30.00

Toastmasters Club                                                                               $30.00

Topsail Island Shoreline Protection                                                       $30.00

Travel and Tourism                                                                              $30.00

AIDS Awareness                                                                                 $25.00

Buffalo Soldiers                                                                                   $25.00

Choose Life                                                                                         $25.00

Collegiate Insignia                                                                                $25.00

First in Turf                                                                                          $25.00

Goodness Grows                                                                                 $25.00

High School Insignia                                                                             $25.00

Kids First                                                                                            $25.00

National Multiple Sclerosis Society                                                       $25.00

National Wild Turkey Federation                                                         $25.00

NC Agribusiness                                                                                  $25.00

NC Children's Promise                                                                        $25.00

Nurses                                                                                                 $25.00

Olympic Games                                                                                   $25.00

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation                                                          $25.00

Special Olympics                                                                                 $25.00

Support Soccer                                                                                   $25.00

Surveyor Plate                                                                                     $25.00

The V Foundation for Cancer Research Division                                   $25.00

University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina                                      $25.00

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity                                                                   $20.00

ALS Association, Jim "Catfish" Hunter Chapter                                    $20.00

ARC of North Carolina                                                                        $20.00

Audubon North Carolina                                                                      $20.00

Autism Society of North Carolina                                                         $20.00

Battle of Kings Mountain                                                                      $20.00

Be Active NC                                                                                      $20.00

Brain Injury Awareness                                                                        $20.00

Breast Cancer Earlier Detection                                                           $20.00

Buddy Pelletier Surfing Foundation                                                       $20.00

Concerned Bikers Association/ABATE of North Carolina                    $20.00

Daughters of the American Revolution                                                  $20.00

Donate Life                                                                                          $20.00

Ducks Unlimited                                                                                  $20.00

Greyhound Friends of North Carolina                                                   $20.00

Guilford Battleground Company                                                           $20.00

Harley Owners' Group                                                                         $20.00

Jaycees                                                                                                $20.00

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation                                                $20.00

Kappa Alpha Order                                                                             $20.00

Litter Prevention                                                                                  $20.00

March of Dimes                                                                                   $20.00

Morgan Horse Club                                                                             $20.00

Native American                                                                                  $20.00

NC Fisheries Association                                                                     $20.00

NC Horse Council                                                                               $20.00

NC Mining                                                                                          $20.00

NC Tennis Foundation                                                                         $20.00

NC Trout Unlimited                                                                             $20.00

NC Victim Assistance                                                                          $20.00

NC Wildlife Federation                                                                        $20.00

NC Wildlife Habitat Foundation                                                           $20.00

NC Youth Soccer Association                                                             $20.00

North Carolina Master Gardener                                                          $20.00

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity                                                                      $20.00

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity                                                                     $20.00

Piedmont Airlines                                                                                 $20.00

Prince Hall Mason                                                                               $20.00

Save the Sea Turtles                                                                            $20.00

Scenic Rivers                                                                                       $20.00

School Technology                                                                              $20.00

SCUBA                                                                                              $20.00

Soil and Water Conservation                                                                $20.00

Special Forces Association                                                                  $20.00

Support Public Schools                                                                        $20.00

Sustainable Fisheries                                                                            $20.00

Town of Matthews                                                                               $20.00

US Equine Rescue League                                                                   $20.00

USO of NC                                                                                         $20.00

Wildlife Resources                                                                               $20.00

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority                                                                          $20.00

Carolina Regional Volleyball Association                                              $15.00

Carolina's Aviation Museum                                                                 $15.00

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society                                                          $15.00

Lung Cancer Research                                                                         $15.00

NC Beekeepers                                                                                   $15.00

Shag Dancing                                                                                       $15.00

Active Member of the National Guard                                                    None

100% Disabled Veteran                                                                         None

Ex-Prisoner of War                                                                                None

Gold Star Lapel Button                                                                          None

Legion of Valor                                                                                      None

Purple Heart Recipient                                                                           None

All Other Special Plates                                                                       $10.00."

SECTION 3.  G.S. 20-79.7(b) reads as rewritten: 

"(b)      Distribution of Fees. - The Special Registration Plate Account and the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account are established within the Highway Fund. The Division must credit the additional fee imposed for the special registration plates listed in subsection (a) of this section among the Special Registration Plate Account (SRPA), the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account (CCAPA), the Natural Heritage Trust Fund (NHTF), which is established under G.S. 113-77.7, and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, which is established under G.S. 113-44.15, as follows:

Special Plate                               SRPA            CCAPA             NHTF              PRTF

AIDS Awareness                                          $10                 $15                     0                     0

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity                             $10                  $10                     0                     0

ALS Association, Jim "Catfish"

Hunter Chapter                                        $10                  $10                     0                     0

American Red Cross                                     $10                  $20                     0                     0

Animal Lovers                                               $10                  $20                     0                     0

ARC of North Carolina                                 $10                  $10                     0                     0

Arthritis Foundation                                       $10                  $20                     0                     0

ARTS NC                                                     $10                  $20                     0                     0

Audubon North Carolina                               $10                  $10                     0                     0

Autism Society of North

Carolina                                                   $10                  $10                     0                     0

Back Country Horsemen of NC                     $10                  $20                     0                     0

Battle of Kings Mountain                               $10                  $10                     0                     0

Be Active NC                                               $10                  $10                     0                     0

Boy Scouts of America                                  $10                  $20                     0                     0

Brain Injury Awareness                                  $10                  $10                     0                     0

Breast Cancer Earlier Detection                     $10                  $10                     0                     0

Brenner Children's Hospital                            $10                  $20                     0                     0

Buddy Pelletier Surfing

Foundation                                                    $10                  $10                     0                     0

Buffalo Soldiers                                             $10                  $15                     0                     0

Carolina Raptor Center                                  $10                  $20                     0                     0

Carolina Regional Volleyball

Association                                              $10                    $5                     0                     0

Carolina's Aviation Museum                           $10                    $5                     0                     0

Carolinas Credit Union

Foundation                                              $10                  $20                     0                     0

Carolinas Golf Association                             $10                  $20                     0                     0

Choose Life                                                   $10                  $15                     0                     0

Coastal Conservation

Association                                                    $10                  $20                     0                     0

Coastal Land Trust                                        $10                  $20                     0                     0

Concerned Bikers Association/

ABATE of North Carolina                       $10                  $10                     0                     0

Crystal Coast                                                $10                  $20                     0                     0

Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens                    $10                  $20                     0                     0

Daughters of the American

Revolution                                                     $10                  $10                     0                     0

Donate Life                                                   $10                  $10                     0                     0

Ducks Unlimited                                            $10                  $10                     0                     0

El Pueblo                                                       $10                  $20                     0                     0

Farmland Preservation                                   $10                  $20                     0                     0

First in Forestry                                             $10                  $10                 $10                     0

First in Turf                                                    $10                  $15                     0                     0

Girl Scouts                                                    $10                  $20                     0                     0

Goodness Grows                                           $10                  $15                     0                     0

Greensboro Symphony Guild                         $10                  $20                     0                     0

Greyhound Friends of North

Carolina                                                   $10                  $10                     0                     0

Guilford Battleground

Company                                                 $10                  $10                     0                     0

Harley Owners' Group                                   $10                  $10                     0                     0

High School Insignia                                      $10                  $15                     0                     0

Historical Attraction                                       $10                  $20                     0                     0

Home Care and Hospice                               $10                  $20                     0                     0

Home of American Golf                                 $10                  $20                     0                     0

HOMES4NC                                                $10                  $20                     0                     0

Hospice Care                                                $10                  $20                     0                     0

In God We Trust                                           $10                  $20                     0                     0

In-State Collegiate Insignia                             $10                  $15                     0                     0

Jaycees                                                         $10                  $10                     0                     0

Juvenile Diabetes Research

Foundation                                              $10                  $10                     0                     0

Kappa Alpha Order                                      $10                  $10                     0                     0

Kids First                                                      $10                  $15                     0                     0

Leukemia & Lymphoma

Society                                                    $10                    $5                     0                     0

Litter Prevention                                            $10                  $10                     0                     0

Lung Cancer Research                                   $10                    $5                     0                     0

Maggie Valley Trout Festival                          $10                  $20                     0                     0

March of Dimes                                             $10                  $10                     0                     0

Morgan Horse Club                                       $10                  $20                     0                     0

Mountains-to-Sea Trail                                  $10                  $20                     0                     0

National Kidney Foundation                          $10                  $20                     0                     0

National Multiple Sclerosis

Society                                                    $10                  $15                     0                     0

National Wild Turkey

Federation                                               $10                  $15                     0                     0

Native American                                            $10                  $10                     0                     0

NC Agribusiness                                           $10                  $15                     0                     0

NC Beekeepers                                            $10                    $5                     0                     0

NC Children's Promise                                  $10                  $15                     0                     0

NC Civil War                                                $10                  $20                     0                     0

NC Coastal Federation                                  $10                  $20                     0                     0

NC 4-H Development Fund                          $10                  $20                     0                     0

NC Fisheries Association                               $10                  $10                     0                     0

NC Horse Council                                         $10                  $10                     0                     0

NC Mining                                                    $10                  $10                     0                     0

NC Tennis Foundation                                   $10                  $10                     0                     0

NC Trout Unlimited                                       $10                  $10                     0                     0

NC Veterinary Medical

Association                                              $10                  $20                     0                     0

NC Victim Assistance                                    $10                  $10                     0                     0

NC Wildlife Federation                                  $10                  $10                     0                     0

NC Wildlife Habitat

Foundation                                              $10                  $10                     0                     0

NC Youth Soccer

Association                                              $10                  $10                     0                     0

North Carolina Cattlemen's Association         $10                  $20                     0                     0

North Carolina Emergency

Management Association                         $10                  $20                     0                     0

North Carolina Green Industry

Council                                                    $10                  $20                     0                     0

North Carolina Libraries                                $10                  $20                     0                     0

North Carolina Master Gardener                   $10                  $10                     0                     0

Nurses                                                          $10                  $15                     0                     0

Olympic Games                                             $10                  $15                     0                     0

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity                               $10                  $10                     0                     0

Out-of-state Collegiate Insignia                      $10                      0                 $15                     0

Outer Banks Preservation

Association                                                    $10                  $20                     0                     0

Pamlico-Tar River Foundation                       $10                  $20                     0                     0

P.E.O. Sisterhood                                         $10                  $20                     0                     0

Personalized                                                  $10                      0                 $15                   $5

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity                               $10                  $10                     0                     0

Piedmont Airlines                                           $10                  $10                     0                     0

Prince Hall Mason                                         $10                  $10                     0                     0

Retired Legislator                                          $10                  $20                     0                     0

RiverLink                                                      $10                  $20                     0                     0

Rocky Mountain Elk

Foundation                                              $10                  $15                     0                     0

Ronald McDonald House                              $10                  $20                     0                     0

Save the Sea Turtles                                      $10                  $10                     0                     0

Scenic Rivers                                                 $10                  $10                     0                     0

School Technology                                        $10                  $10                     0                     0

SCUBA                                                        $10                  $10                     0                     0

Shag Dancing                                                $10                    $5                     0                     0

Share the Road                                              $10                  $20                     0                     0

Soil and Water Conservation                         $10                  $10                     0                     0

Special Forces Association                            $10                  $10                     0                     0

Special Olympics                                           $10                  $15                     0                     0

S.T.A.R.                                                       $10                  $20                     0                     0

State Attraction                                             $10                  $20                     0                     0

Stock Car Racing Theme                               $10                  $20                     0                     0

Support NC Education                                  $10                  $20                     0                     0

Support Our Troops                                      $10                  $20                     0                     0

Support Public Schools                                  $10                  $10                     0                     0

Support Soccer                                             $10                  $15                     0                     0

Surveyor Plate                                               $10                  $15                     0                     0

Sustainable Fisheries                                      $10                  $20                     0                     0

The V Foundation for Cancer

Research                                                 $10                  $15                     0                     0

Toastmasters Club                                         $10                  $20                     0                     0

Topsail Island Shoreline

Protection                                                $10                  $20                     0                     0

Town of Matthews                                        $10                  $10                     0                     0

Travel and Tourism                                        $10                  $20                     0                     0

University Health Systems of

Eastern Carolina                                      $10                  $15                     0                     0

US Equine Rescue League                             $10                  $10                     0                     0

USO of NC                                                  $10                  $10                     0                     0

Wildlife Resources                                         $10                  $10                     0                     0

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority                                   $10                  $10                     0                     0

All other Special Plates                                  $10                      0                     0                     0."

SECTION 4.  G.S. 20-81.12(b2) reads as rewritten:

"(b2)    State Attraction Plates. - The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a State attraction plate before the plate may be developed. The Division must transfer quarterly the money in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account derived from the sale of State attraction plates to the organizations named below in proportion to the number of State attraction plates sold representing that organization:

(1)        Aurora Fossil Museum. - The revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to the Aurora Fossil Museum Foundation, Inc., to be used for educational programs, for enhancing collections, and for operating expenses of the Aurora Fossil Museum.

(2)        Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. - The revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation for use in promoting and preserving the Blue Ridge Parkway as a scenic attraction in North Carolina. A person may obtain from the Division a special registration plate under this subdivision for the registered owner of a motor vehicle or a motorcycle. The registration fees and the restrictions on the issuance of a specialized registration plate for a motorcycle are the same as for any motor vehicle. The Division must receive a minimum of 300 applications to develop a special registration plate for a motorcycle.

(3)        Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. - The revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to the Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Inc., to be used for educational materials, preservation programs, capital improvements for the portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that is located in North Carolina, and operating expenses of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

(4)        Friends of the Appalachian Trail. - The revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to The Appalachian Trail Conference to be used for educational materials, preservation programs, trail maintenance, trailway and viewshed acquisitions, trailway and viewshed easement acquisitions, capital improvements for the portions of the Appalachian Trail and connecting trails that are located in North Carolina, and related administrative and operating expenses.

(5)        North Carolina State Parks. - One-half of the revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to Natural Heritage Trust Fund established under G.S. 113-77.7, and the remaining revenue shall be transferred quarterly to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund established under G.S. 113-44.15.

(6)        "Old Baldy," Bald Head Island Lighthouse. - The revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to the Old Baldy Foundation, Inc., for its programs in support of the Bald Head Island Lighthouse.

(7)        The North Carolina Aquariums. - The revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to the North Carolina Aquarium Society, Inc., for its programs in support of the North Carolina Aquariums.

(8)        The North Carolina Arboretum. - The revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to The North Carolina Arboretum Society and used to help the Society obtain grants for the North Carolina Arboretum and for capital improvements to the North Carolina Arboretum.

(9)        The North Carolina Maritime Museum. - The revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to Friends of the Museum, North Carolina Maritime Museum, Inc., to be used for educational programs and conservation programs and for operating expenses of the North Carolina Maritime Museum.

(10)      The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. - The revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to the Friends of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences for its programs in support of the museum.

(11)      The North Carolina Transportation Museum. - The revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to the North Carolina Transportation Museum Foundation to be used for educational programs and conservation programs and for operating expenses of the North Carolina Transportation Museum.

(11)(12)     The North Carolina Zoological Society. - The revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to The North Carolina Zoological Society, Incorporated, to be used for educational programs and conservation programs at the North Carolina Zoo at Asheboro and for operating expenses of the North Carolina Zoo at Asheboro.

(12)(13)     U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship Commission. - The revenue derived from the special plate shall be transferred quarterly to the U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship Commission to be used for educational programs and preservation programs on the U.S.S. North Carolina (BB-55) and for operating expenses of the U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship Commission."

SECTION 5.  G.S. 20-81.12 is amended by adding the following new subsections to read:

"(b126) North Carolina Cattlemen's Association. - The Division must receive 300 or more applications for the "North Carolina Cattlemen's Association" plate before the plate may be developed. The Division shall transfer quarterly the money in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account derived from the sale of "North Carolina Cattlemen's Association" plates to the North Carolina Cattlemen's Association, Inc.

(b127)  RiverLink. - The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a "RiverLink" plate before the plate may be developed. The Division shall transfer quarterly the money in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account derived from the sale of "RiverLink" plates to RiverLink, Inc., to support the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River and its tributaries as a place to work, live, and play.

(b128)  Town of Matthews. - The Division must receive 300 or more applications for the "Town of Matthews" plate before the plate may be developed. The Division shall transfer quarterly the money in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account derived from the sale of "Town of Matthews" plates to the Town of Matthews."

SECTION 6.  The Revisor of Statutes is authorized to alphabetize, number, and renumber the special registration plates listed in G.S. 20-79.4(b) to ensure that all the special registration plates are listed in alphabetical order and numbered accordingly.

SECTION 7.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2012.