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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
Arizona beekeepers special plates
Purpose
Establishes Arizona beekeepers special plates and the Arizona Beekeepers Special Plate Fund (Fund).
Background
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Motor Vehicle Division provides one license plate to every motor vehicle owner for each vehicle registered. ADOT must issue or renew special license plates in lieu of regular license plates under specified conditions and procedures. The fee for obtaining or renewing a special license plate is $25, of which $8 is an administration fee that ADOT deposits in the State Highway Fund (SHF) and $17 is a donation to a specific organization (A.R.S. §§ 28-2351; 28-2402; and 28-2403).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires ADOT to issue an Arizona beekeepers special plate if, by December 31, 2022, a person pays the $32,000 implementation fee to ADOT.
2. Requires the person who pays the $32,000 fee to design the Arizona beekeepers special plate, subject to approval by ADOT.
3. Allows the Director of ADOT (Director) to combine an Arizona beekeepers special plate request with a personalized special plate request.
4. Specifies that a combined request must be submitted on a Director-prescribed form and is subject to the fees for both the Arizona beekeepers special plate and personalized license plate.
5. Specifies that, of the $25 fee required to obtain and renew an Arizona beekeepers special plate, $8 is an administration fee and $17 is an annual donation.
6. Establishes the Fund which is to be administered by the Director.
7. Requires the first $32,000 in the Fund to be reimbursed to the person who paid the initial implementation fee.
8. Prohibits the Director from spending more than 10 percent of the monies deposited annually to administer the Fund.
9. Specifies that the monies in the Fund are continuously appropriated.
10. Requires the Director to annually allocate monies from the Fund, excluding administrative fees, to an entity which:
a) is a charitable organization that is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit;
b) is located in Arizona;
c) has been in existence since 2017;
d) has a mission to teach and encourage better methods among beekeepers in Arizona, promote cooperation and sharing, reach a common understanding regarding beekeeper problems and solutions and stimulate the interest of the general public in the advantages and benefits of beekeeping;
e) encourages the study of and research in apiculture with an emphasis on better methodology, increased production, public safety and improved marketing; and
f) participates in outreach activities, including special events and visits to schools, to teach and inform the general public about honeybees and the beekeeping industry.
11. Requires ADOT to deposit all Arizona beekeepers special plate administration fees in the SHF and all donations collected in the Fund.
12. Makes conforming changes.
13. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
TRANS 1/24/22 DP 10-0-0-2
3rd Read 2/10/22 43-13-4
Prepared by Senate Research
March 17, 2022
RA/JM/sr