 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
wildland fire prevention special plates
Purpose
Establishes wildland fire prevention and neurodiversity services and research special plates, eliminates qualification requirements for the national guard member special plate and extends the Pascua Yaqui Tribe special plate implementation deadline to December 31, 2025.
Background
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Motor Vehicle Division provides one license plate to every motor vehicle owner for each vehicle registered (A.R.S. § 28-2351). ADOT is required to issue or renew special plates in lieu of regular license plates under specified conditions and procedures (A.R.S. § 28-2403). The fee for obtaining or renewing a special plate is $25 (A.R.S. § 28-2402). Of the $25 fee, $8 is an administration fee that ADOT deposits in the State Highway Fund (SHF) and $17 is a donation.
ADOT must issue a national guard member special plate to a person who submits satisfactory proof to ADOT that the person, or the spouse of the person, is or has been a member of the Arizona National Guard. ADOT may not issue a national guard member special plate to a person, or the spouse of a person, who was discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces under less than honorable conditions (A.R.S. §§ 28-2402 and 28-2415). The Director of ADOT (Director) must deposit all special plate administration fees in the SHF and transmit national guard member special plate donations to the Morale, Welfare and Recreational Fund (A.R.S. § 28-2415).
ADOT must issue a Pascua Yaqui Tribe special plate if, by December 31, 2023, a person pays the $32,000 implementation fee. The fee for obtaining or renewing a Pascua Yaqui Tribe special plate is $25 (A.R.S. § 28-2402). Of the $25 fee, $8 is an administration fee that ADOT deposits in the SHF and $17 is a donation to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe for: 1) education scholarships, including academic-related and extracurricular activities, for children in the Pascua Yaqui Tribe; or 2) legal assistance for unrepresented persons (A.R.S. § 28-2470.21).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
Wildland Fire Prevention Special Plate
1. Requires ADOT to issue a wildland fire prevention special plate if, by December 31, 2024, a person pays the $32,000 implementation fee.
2. Requires the person that pays the $32,000 implementation fee to design the wildland fire prevention special plate.
3. Subjects the design and color of the wildland fire prevention special plate to the approval of ADOT.
4. Allows the Director to combine a request for a wildland fire prevention special plate with a request for a personalized special plate.
5. Specifies that a combined request must be submitted in a form prescribed by the Director and is subject to the fees for both the wildland fire prevention special plate and personalized special plate.
6. Specifies that, of the $25 fee required to obtain or renew a wildland fire prevention special plate, $8 is an administration fee and $17 is an annual donation.
7. Establishes the Wildland Fire Prevention Special Plate Fund which is to be administered by the Director.
8. Requires ADOT to deposit all special plate administration fees in the SHF and transmit special plate donations to the Wildland Fire Prevention Special Plate Fund.
10. Requires the Director to annually allocate Wildland Fire Prevention Special Plate Fund monies to a 501(c)(3) organization that has:
a) a vision of an exemplary, one-of-a-kind wildland fire learning center that honors the legacy of deceased hotshot crew firefighters by educating, inspiring and motivating visitors to adopt behaviors that prevent wildland fires, resulting in fewer fire related fatalities;
b) a mission to establish and operate a wildland fire learning center that honors deceased hotshot crew firefighters by telling their story, displaying and housing artifacts and memorabilia and educating visitors about wildland fire, firefighting and prevention; and
c) a board comprised of family members of deceased hotshot crew firefighters and community members.
11. Requires, on notice from the Director, the State Treasurer to invest and divest Wildland Fire Prevention Special Plate Fund monies and credit monies earned to the Fund.
12. Specifies that Wildland Fire Prevention Special Plate Fund monies are continuously appropriated.
Neurodiversity Services and Research Special Plate
13. Requires ADOT to issue a neurodiversity services and research special plate if, by December 31, 2024, a person pays the $32,000 implementation fee.
14. Requires the person that pays the $32,000 implementation fee to design the neurodiversity services and research special plate.
15. Subjects the design and color of the neurodiversity services and research special plate to the approval of ADOT.
16. Allows the Director to combine a request for a neurodiversity services and research special plate with a request for a personalized special plate.
17. Specifies that a combined request must be submitted in a form prescribed by the Director and is subject to the fees for both the neurodiversity services and research special plate and personalized special plate.
18. Specifies that, of the $25 fee required to obtain or renew a neurodiversity services and research special plate, $8 is an administration fee and $17 is an annual donation.
19. Establishes the Neurodiversity Services and Research Special Plate Fund which is to be administered by the Director.
20. Requires ADOT to deposit all special plate administration fees in the SHF and transmit special plate donations to the Neurodiversity Services and Research Special Plate Fund.
21. Requires the first $32,000 in the Neurodiversity Services and Research Special Plate Fund to be reimbursed to the person that paid the implementation fee.
22. Requires the Director to annually allocate Neurodiversity Services and Research Special Plate Fund monies to two 501(c)(3) organizations that are engaged with the neurodiversity community.
23. Requires one neurodiversity community organization to:
a) be an internationally recognized leader that conducts innovative research, provides evidence-based practices, disseminates effective training and builds inclusive communities for individuals of all ages with autism and their families;
b) offer nearly 20 programs and services rooted in applied behavior analysis and provide community outreach and training; and
c) have an innovative research program that brings together scientists and stakeholders to gain a better understanding of possible causes of autism, identify better treatments and educate others about how to improve the quality of life for those impacted.
24. Requires the other neurodiversity community organization to:
a) advance innovative residential and community options for adults with autism, down syndrome, traumatic brain injury and other neurodiversities through its vision for fueling a new wave of real estate and community integrated living options;
b) have a property that is 81,000 square feet and that contains a 63-unit apartment community set in an urban area; and
c) have an institute that leverages the 63-unit apartment to serve as a research and development site and support the replication of residential and postsecondary education models through collaboration among the public, private, philanthropic and nonprofit sectors.
25. Requires, on notice from the Director, the State Treasurer to invest and divest Neurodiversity Services and Research Special Plate Fund monies and credit monies earned to the Fund.
26. Specifies that Neurodiversity Services and Research Special Plate Fund monies are continuously appropriated.
National Guard Member Special Plate
27. Removes the requirement that a person must submit satisfactory proof of Arizona National Guard membership to qualify for the national guard member special plate.
28. Eliminates the prohibition on issuing a national guard member special plate to a person, or the spouse of a person, who was discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces under less than honorable conditions.
29. Renames the national guard member special plate as the national guard special plate.
Miscellaneous
30. Extends, retroactive to December 31, 2023, the date by which a person must pay the implementation fee for ADOT to issue the Pascua Yaqui Tribe special plate, from December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2025.
31. Makes technical and conforming changes.
32. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with a retroactive provision as noted.
Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives
1. Establishes the neurodiversity services and research special plate and Neurodiversity Services and Research Special Plate Fund.
2. Removes requirements for a person to qualify for a national guard member special plate.
3. Renames the national guard member special plate as the national guard special plate.
4. Extends the deadline to pay the implementation fee for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe special plate.
5. Makes technical and conforming changes.
Senate Action House Action
TTMC 2/15/24 DP 5-2-0 TI 3/20/24 DPA 10-1-0-0
3rd Read 3/7/24 24-4-2 3rd Read 4/1/24 35-14-10-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
April 1, 2024
KJA/EB/slp