HF 2624 (LSB 5557HZ (2) 88)

HOUSE FILE 2624

BY  COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2234)
(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2020)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to radio operators blackout special registration plates for motor vehicles, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.34, subsection 3, Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  Radio operators plates.  The owner of an automobile, motorcycle, trailer, or motor truck who holds an amateur radio license issued by the federal communications commission may, upon written application to the county treasurer accompanied by a fee of five dollars, order special registration radio operators plates bearing the call letters authorized the radio station covered by the person’s amateur radio license. When received by the county treasurer, such special registration radio operators plates shall be issued to the applicant in exchange for the registration plates previously issued to the person. Not more than one set of special registration radio operators plates may be issued to an applicant. Said fee shall be in addition to and not in lieu of the fee for regular registration plates. Special registration Radio operators plates must, including any special radio operators plates authorized by this section, shall be surrendered upon expiration of the owner’s amateur radio license and the owner shall thereupon be entitled to the owner’s regular registration plates. The county treasurer shall validate special radio operators plates in the same manner as regular registration plates, upon payment of five dollars in addition to the regular annual registration fee.
    Sec. 2.  Section 321.34, subsection 11C, paragraphs c and d, Code 2020, are amended to read as follows:
   c.  The special blackout fee for letter-number designated blackout plates is thirty-five dollars.  An applicant eligible for radio operators plates under subsection 3 may obtain radio operators blackout plates upon payment of the fee for radio operators plates as provided in subsection 3, which is in addition to the special blackout fee. An applicant may obtain personalized blackout plates upon payment of the fee for personalized plates as provided in subsection 5, which is in addition to the special blackout fee. The fees collected by the director under this subsection shall be paid monthly to the treasurer of state and deposited in the road use tax fund.
   d.  Upon receipt of the special registration plates, the applicant shall surrender the current registration plates to the county treasurer. The county treasurer shall validate the special registration plates in the same manner as regular registration plates are validated under this section. The annual special blackout fee for letter-number designated plates is ten dollars which shall be paid in addition to the regular annual registration fee. The annual fee for personalized blackout plates and radio operators blackout plates is five dollars which shall be paid in addition to the annual special blackout fee and the regular annual registration fee. The annual special blackout fee shall be credited as provided under paragraph “c”.
    Sec. 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2021.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under current law, an owner of a motor vehicle who holds an amateur radio license issued by the federal communications commission may order radio operators special registration plates bearing the call letters authorized for the radio station covered by the person’s amateur radio license. Current law also authorizes the department of transportation (DOT) to issue blackout plates to an owner of a motor vehicle, which are plates with a black background and white numbers and letters.
   This bill authorizes the DOT to issue radio operators blackout special registration plates. An applicant otherwise eligible for radio operators plates may obtain radio operators blackout plates upon the payment of the $5 fee for radio operators plates set forth under current law, which is in addition to the special blackout fee. The annual fee for radio operators blackout plates is $5, which is in addition to the annual special blackout fee and the regular annual registration fee. 
   The bill also makes conforming changes to Code section 321.34(3) to require special radio operators plates, such as radio operators blackout plates, to be surrendered upon expiration of the owner’s amateur radio license.
   The bill takes effect January 1, 2021.