| HB 1755 - Spec lic plates; trout hatchery, restocking, and stream restoration |
First Reader Summary
A BILL to amend Article 2 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the
Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and
licensing of motor vehicles generally, so as to authorize the
issuance of license plates promoting trout hatchery, restocking,
and stream restoration programs of the Department of Natural
Resources; and for other purposes.
HB 1755 LC 25 1789
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1- 1 To amend Article 2 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official
1- 2 Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and
1- 3 licensing of motor vehicles generally, so as to authorize
1- 4 the issuance of license plates promoting trout hatchery,
1- 5 restocking, and stream restoration programs of the
1- 6 Department of Natural Resources; to provide procedures for
1- 7 acquiring such license plates; to provide for licensing
1- 8 agreements; to provide for the cost of such license plates;
1- 9 to provide for the transfer of such license plates; to
1-10 provide for the disposition of the funds derived from the
1-11 sale of the special license plates; to provide for
1-12 appropriations; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
1-13 purposes.
1-14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
1-15 SECTION 1.
1-16 Article 2 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of
1-17 Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and licensing of
1-18 motor vehicles generally, is amended by adding, following
1-19 Code Section 40-2-49.1, a new Code Section 40-2-49.2 to read
1-20 as follows:
1-21 "40-2-49.2.
1-22 (a) In order to promote and financially provide for trout
1-23 hatchery, restocking, and stream restoration programs of
1-24 the Department of Natural Resources, there shall be issued
1-25 beginning January 1, 2001, special license plates
1-26 promoting such programs.
1-27 (b) The Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation
1-28 with the state revenue commissioner, shall design special
1-29 distinctive license plates appropriate to promote trout
1-30 hatchery, restocking, and stream restoration programs.
1-31 Such license plate must be of the same size as general
1-32 issue motor vehicle license plates and shall be of a
1-33 unique design including the phrase 'Trout Unlimited' and
1-34 an identifying number, whereby the total number of
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2- 1 characters does not exceed six. No two recipients shall
2- 2 receive identically numbered plates. Such design shall
2- 3 provide space in which to indicate the name of the county
2- 4 of issuance.
2- 5 (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of
2- 6 this Code section, this Code section shall not be
2- 7 implemented until such time as the State of Georgia has,
2- 8 through a licensing agreement or otherwise, received such
2- 9 licenses or other permissions as may be required to
2-10 implement this Code section. The design of the license
2-11 plate, excepting only any part or parts of the designs
2-12 owned by others and licensed to the state, shall be owned
2-13 solely by the State of Georgia for its exclusive use and
2-14 control, except as authorized by the state revenue
2-15 commissioner. The state revenue commissioner may take
2-16 such steps as may be necessary to give notice of and
2-17 protect such right, including the copyright or copyrights.
2-18 However, such steps shall be cumulative of the ownership
2-19 and exclusive use and control established by this
2-20 subsection as a matter of law, and no person shall
2-21 reproduce or otherwise use such design or designs, except
2-22 as authorized by the state revenue commissioner.
2-23 (d) Beginning in calendar year 2001, any Georgia resident
2-24 who is the owner of a motor vehicle, except a vehicle
2-25 registered under the International Registration Plan, upon
2-26 complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to
2-27 registration and licensing of motor vehicles and upon the
2-28 payment of a fee of $25.00 in addition to the regular
2-29 motor vehicle registration fee, shall be issued a license
2-30 plate under this Code section. Revalidation decals shall,
2-31 upon payment of the fees required by law and collected by
2-32 the county tag agent and remitted to the state as provided
2-33 in Code Section 40-2-34, be issued for such license plates
2-34 in the same manner as provided for general issue license
2-35 plates.
2-36 (e) The funds derived from the sale of license plates
2-37 issued under this Code section, less a $1.00 processing
2-38 fee which shall be granted to county tag offices per plate
2-39 sold, shall be deposited in the general fund of the state
2-40 treasury. As soon as practicable after December 31 of each
2-41 year, the state revenue commissioner shall report the net
2-42 amount derived from the sale of license plates issued
2-43 under this Code section to the Office of Planning and
2-44 Budget and the Department of Natural Resources. It is the
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3- 1 intent of the General Assembly that, subject to
3- 2 appropriation, an amount equal to the net proceeds from
3- 3 the sale of such license plates be made available to the
3- 4 Department of Natural Resources for the purpose of funding
3- 5 trout hatchery, restocking, and stream restoration
3- 6 programs in addition to any other appropriations for such
3- 7 purposes.
3- 8 (f) An applicant may request a license plate under this
3- 9 Code section any time during the applicant's registration
3-10 period. If such a license plate is to replace a current
3-11 valid license plate, the Department of Revenue shall issue
3-12 such license plate with appropriate decals attached.
3-13 (g) License plates issued under this Code section shall be
3-14 transferred from one vehicle to another vehicle in
3-15 accordance with the provisions of Code Section 40-2-42."
3-16 SECTION 2.
3-17 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are
3-18 repealed.
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Clerk of the House
Robert E. Rivers, Jr., Clerk
Last Updated on 03/15/00
