LICENSE PLATE EXPIRATION & PRINTING H.B. 4633 (H-4):
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
House Bill 4633 (Substitute H-4 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Wayne Schmidt
House Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
Senate Committee: Transportation
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to do the following: 1) provide that a vehicle registration plate could not be renewed 10 years after it was issued; and 2) require the Secretary of State to prepare and submit a report on the viability of producing registration plates through digital printing.
The bill would take effect on December 1, 2013.
Vehicle Registration Plate Renewal
Under the bill, beginning January 1, 2015, a vehicle registration plate would be ineligible for renewal 10 years after it was issued. An owner of a registered vehicle with a registration plate that was ineligible for renewal would have to get a replacement plate upon paying the fee required under Section 804 of the Code.
(Section 804 requires an applicant for a duplicate or replacement license fee to pay a service fee to the Secretary of State, in addition to any other fees required under the Code. The fee is $5 for a standard or graphic standard plate, personalized registration plate, veterans special registration plate, or other registration plate for which the duplicate or replacement fee is not specified in the Code. The service fee is $10 for each fund-raising registration plate or collector plate, or for a set of special organization plates.)
At the request of a vehicle owner whose registration plate was ineligible for renewal, the Department of State could issue a new registration plate with the same registration number as displayed on the expired plate, if the Department had retired the alphanumeric series from circulation. The Department could issue the new registration plate as provided under Section 803b of the Code (which governs personalized registration plates).
Digitally Printed Registration Plates
The Secretary of State would have to prepare a report analyzing the viability of moving from the current registration plate production process to a digital printing process. The report would have to be prepared in conjunction with the Department of Corrections, the Michigan State Police, the Michigan Sheriffs' Association, one individual appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and one individual appointed by the Senate Majority Leader.
By December 31, 2013, the Secretary of State would have to submit the report to the standing committees of the Senate and House of Representatives with primary responsibility for transportation issues.
MCL 257.224 Legislative Analyst: Glenn Steffens
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State as the Department has indicated that any costs of reissuing a plate that was at least 10 years old would be covered through the fees charged under Section 804.
The bill would have no fiscal impact on local units of government.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.