HF4832

Purpose

• Establish a new survivor support special license plate to raise funds for crime victims by requiring a charitable contribution as part of obtaining and renewing the plate.

Main Provisions

• Issuance of plates

  • The commissioner must issue survivor support plates (or a single motorcycle plate) to a person who is the registered owner of a passenger automobile, recreational vehicle, one-ton pickup, truck, or motorcycle.
  • The owner must: pay the standard special-plate fee, pay the required registration tax, pay the fees required under this chapter, and contribute at least $30 initially and at least $30 each year to the crime victims account (established in section 611A.612).
  • The owner must also comply with all applicable laws and rules for vehicle registration and driver licensing.

• Design

  • The commissioner must choose a plate design after consulting with the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Violence Free Minnesota, and other groups identified by the commissioner.

• No refunds

  • Contributions to the crime victims account under this program are not refundable.

• Plate transfers

  • Plates issued under this program may be transferred to another motor vehicle (with a $5 transfer fee) if the new vehicle qualifies and is registered to the same person who originally received the plates.

• Contribution and fees credited

  • The contributed amounts are deposited into the crime victims account (section 611A.612). An amount is appropriated from that account to cover the department’s costs to administer the account.

• Record-keeping

  • The commissioner must keep a record of how many plates are issued under this program.

• Exemption

  • Plates issued under this program are not subject to a specified provision in section 168.1293(2), which relates to certain restrictions or conditions on plates.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new set of survivor support special license plates under a new provision (168.1257), tying plate ownership to annual charitable contributions to the crime victims account.
• Directs the funds from the program to support crime victims (through the crime victims account in 611A.612) and requires administrative costs to be covered from those funds.
• Establishes a mandatory design-consultation process with victim-support organizations to determine the plate’s appearance.
• Introduces a transfer option and a modest transfer fee to allow plates to move with ownership, while keeping the vehicle eligibility requirements intact.
• Adds nonrefundable contributions as part of the plate issuance and renewal process.

How It Affects People

• Vehicle owners who want the survivor support plate must agree to contribute to crime victims services each year, in addition to normal plate and registration fees.
• The program aims to provide ongoing funding to support crime victims and sexual assault survivors through the dedicated crime victims account.

Relevant Terms - survivor support plates - special license plates - crime victims account - 611A.612 - Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault - Violence Free Minnesota - registration tax - plate design - plate issuance - plate transfer - nonrefundable contributions - vehicle registration fees - damage to existing law / exemptions under 168.1293(2)