Purpose

This bill would create a new option for license plates called Panhellenic special plates. It aims to support fraternities and sororities that are part of the National PanHellenic Council by funding affiliated charitable foundations. Vehicle owners who want these plates must meet eligibility and funding requirements, including a minimum annual donation.

Main Provisions

• Issuance of plates: The commissioner must issue Panhellenic special plates (or a single motorcycle plate) to eligible vehicle owners who (a) own a passenger automobile, noncommercial one-ton pickup truck, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle; (b) pay the required special-plates fee and other applicable fees; (c) pay the registration tax; (d) contribute a minimum of $40 annually to the Panhellenic foundations account; and (e) follow registration and licensing rules.
• Organization eligibility: A fraternity or sorority is eligible if it is a member of the National PanHellenic Council and has an affiliated charitable foundation that is a nonprofit organization.
• Plate design: At the request of an eligible organization, the commissioner must adopt a plate design that includes the organization’s emblem and an inscription identifying the organization and its motto or the standard inscription used on license plates.
• Plate transfer: Special plates can be transferred to another eligible vehicle (with a $5 transfer fee) if the new vehicle is eligible and owned by the same person who originally received the plates.
• Exemption: Plates issued under this section are not subject to a specific existing provision (section 168.1293 subdivision 2).
• Funding and distribution: Donations must go to the Panhellenic foundations account in the special revenue fund. Money is first used to cover annual admin costs; the remaining funds are distributed to affiliated charitable foundations in proportion to the number of plates issued for each design relative to total Panhellenic plates that year.
• Use of funds: Charitable foundations receiving the distributions must use the funds solely for charitable purposes that further the organizations’ mission.

Significant Changes to Law

• Establishes a new license plate category (Panhellenic special plates) and a funding mechanism linked to vehicle registration.
• Creates a dedicated Panhellenic foundations account in the special revenue fund to collect and distribute donations.
• Ties annual charitable funding to the number of plates issued and to each organization’s plate design proportion.

Practical Impact

• Franchise/sorority organizations with National PanHellenic Council membership can obtain a plate design to represent their group.
• Vehicle owners gain a new plate option, but must commit to annual charitable contributions and relevant fees.
• Funds support affiliated charitable foundations, with distributions proportionate to plate issuance.

Terminology Included

• Panhellenic special plates
• Panhellenic foundations account
• National PanHellenic Council
• affiliated charitable foundations
• special revenue fund
• commissioner (of public safety)
• emblem and inscription (plate design)
• motto
• designation of eligible vehicles (passenger automobile, noncommercial one-ton pickup truck, motorcycle, recreational vehicle)
• transfer fee
• registration tax
• exemption from section 168.1293 subdivision 2
• annual admin costs
• proportional distribution by plate design

Relevant Terms Panhellenic special plates Panhellenic foundations account National PanHellenic Council affiliated charitable foundations special revenue fund commissioner of public safety emblem inscription motto plate design transfer fee registration tax eligible vehicle (passenger automobile, noncommercial one-ton pickup, motorcycle, recreational vehicle) exemption (168.1293 subdivision 2) annual admin costs proportional distribution affiliated charitable foundations funds charitable purposes