House File 749 - Reprinted
HOUSE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
(SUCCESSOR TO HF 222)
(SUCCESSOR TO HF 604)
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act concerning existing and new special motor vehicle
2 registration plates associated with military service,
3 crediting fees from the sale of certain special motor vehicle
4 registration plates to the emergency medical services fund and
5 the veterans license fee fund, and providing effective dates.
6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
7 HF 749
8 dea/jg/25
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 35A.11, Code 2007, is amended to read
1 2 as follows:
1 3 35A.11 VETERANS LICENSE FEE FUND.
1 4 A veterans license fee fund is created in the state
1 5 treasury under the control of the commission. The fund shall
1 6 include the fees credited by the treasurer of state from the
1 7 sale of special veteran license plates pursuant to section
1 8 321.34, subsection 13, paragraph "d". Notwithstanding section
1 9 12C.7, interest or earnings on moneys in the veterans license
1 10 fee fund shall be credited to the veterans license fee fund.
1 11 Moneys in the fund are appropriated to the commission to be
1 12 used to fulfill the responsibilities of the commission. The
1 13 fund shall include the fees credited by the treasurer of state
1 14 from the sale of the following special motor vehicle
1 15 registration plates:
1 16 1. Veteran special plates issued pursuant to section
1 17 321.34, subsection 13, paragraph "d".
1 18 2. National guard special plates issued pursuant to
1 19 section 321.34, subsection 16.
1 20 3. Pearl Harbor special plates issued pursuant to section
1 21 321.34, subsection 17.
1 22 4. Purple heart special plates issued pursuant to section
1 23 321.34, subsection 18.
1 24 5. United States armed forces retired special plates
1 25 issued pursuant to section 321.34, subsection 19.
1 26 6. Silver star and bronze star special plates issued
1 27 pursuant to section 321.34, subsection 20.
1 28 7. Distinguished service cross, navy cross, and air force
1 29 cross special plates issued pursuant to section 321.34,
1 30 subsection 20A.
1 31 8. Soldier's medal, navy and marine corps medal, and
1 32 airman's medal special plates issued pursuant to section
1 33 321.34, subsection 20B.
1 34 Sec. 2. Section 321.34, subsection 8, Code 2007, is
1 35 amended to read as follows:
2 1 8. CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR PLATES. The owner of a
2 2 motor vehicle subject to registration under section 321.109,
2 3 subsection 1, motorcycle, trailer, or motor truck who has been
2 4 awarded the congressional medal of honor may, upon written
2 5 application to the department, order special registration
2 6 plates which shall be red, white, and blue in color and shall
2 7 bear an emblem of the congressional medal of honor and an
2 8 identifying number. Each applicant applying for special
2 9 registration plates under this subsection may purchase only
2 10 one set of registration plates under this subsection. The
2 11 application is subject to approval by the department and the
2 12 special registration plates shall be issued to the applicant
2 13 in exchange for the registration plates previously issued to
2 14 the person. The special plates are subject to an annual
2 15 registration fee of fifteen dollars. The department shall
2 16 validate the special plates in the same manner as regular
2 17 registration plates are validated under this section. The
2 18 department shall not issue special registration plates until
2 19 service organizations in the state have furnished the
2 20 department either the special dies or the cost of the special
2 21 dies necessary for the manufacture of the special registration
2 22 plate.
2 23 The surviving spouse of a person who was issued special
2 24 plates under this subsection may continue to use the special
2 25 plates subject to registration of the special plates in the
2 26 surviving spouse's name and upon payment of the fifteen dollar
2 27 annual registration fee. If the surviving spouse remarries,
2 28 the surviving spouse shall return the special plates to the
2 29 department and the department shall issue regular registration
2 30 plates to the surviving spouse.
2 31 Sec. 3. Section 321.34, subsection 10A, Code 2007, is
2 32 amended to read as follows:
2 33 10A. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PLATES.
2 34 a. The owner of a motor vehicle subject to registration
2 35 pursuant to section 321.109, subsection 1, motor truck, motor
3 1 home, multipurpose vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or travel
3 2 trailer referred to in subsection 12 who is a current member
3 3 of a paid or volunteer emergency medical services agency may,
3 4 upon written application to the department, order special
3 5 registration plates, designed by the department in cooperation
3 6 with representatives designated by the Iowa emergency medical
3 7 services association, which plates signify that the applicant
3 8 is a current member of a paid or volunteer emergency medical
3 9 services agency. The application shall be approved by the
3 10 department, in consultation with representatives designated by
3 11 the Iowa emergency medical services association, and the
3 12 special registration plates shall be issued to the applicant
3 13 in exchange for the registration plates previously issued to
3 14 the person. The fee for the special plates shall be is
3 15 twenty=five dollars which shall be is in addition to the
3 16 regular annual registration fee. The department shall
3 17 validate the special plates in the same manner as regular
3 18 registration plates are validated under this section at the
3 19 regular annual registration fee.
3 20 b. The special fees collected by the director under this
3 21 subsection shall be paid monthly to the treasurer of state and
3 22 credited to the road use tax fund. Notwithstanding section
3 23 423.43, and prior to the crediting of revenues to the road use
3 24 tax fund under section 423.43, subsection 1, paragraph "b",
3 25 the treasurer of state shall transfer monthly from those
3 26 revenues to the emergency medical services fund created in
3 27 section 135.25 the amount of the special fees collected in the
3 28 previous month for issuance of emergency medical services
3 29 plates.
3 30 Sec. 4. Section 321.34, subsections 12A, 16, 17, 18, 19,
3 31 and 20, Code 2007, are amended to read as follows:
3 32 12A. SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES == ARMED FORCES SERVICES.
3 33 a. An owner of a vehicle referred to in subsection 12 who
3 34 applies for any type of special registration plates associated
3 35 with service in the United States armed forces shall be issued
4 1 one set of the special registration plates at no charge, but
4 2 shall be subject to the annual registration fee of fifteen
4 3 dollars, if all of the following conditions are met:
4 4 a. (1) The owner is eligible for, but has relinquished to
4 5 the department or the county treasurer or has not been issued,
4 6 congressional medal of honor, ex=prisoner of war, or legion of
4 7 merit special registration plates under this section, or
4 8 disabled veteran registration plates under section 321.105.
4 9 b. (2) The owner provides the appropriate information
4 10 regarding the owner's eligibility for any of the special
4 11 registration plates described in paragraph "a", and regarding
4 12 the owner's eligibility for the special registration plates
4 13 for which the owner has applied, as required by the
4 14 department.
4 15 b. A disabled veteran shall be exempt from payment of the
4 16 fifteen dollar annual registration fee as provided in section
4 17 321.105.
4 18 Upon the death of the vehicle owner entitled to the special
4 19 registration plates, the special registration plates shall be
4 20 surrendered to the department or the county treasurer.
4 21 c. The surviving spouse of a person who was issued special
4 22 plates under this subsection may continue to use the special
4 23 plates subject to registration of the special plates in the
4 24 surviving spouse's name and upon payment of the same annual
4 25 registration fee. If the surviving spouse remarries, the
4 26 surviving spouse shall return the special plates to the
4 27 department and the department shall issue regular registration
4 28 plates to the surviving spouse.
4 29 16. NATIONAL GUARD SPECIAL PLATES. An owner referred to
4 30 in subsection 12 who is a member of the national guard, as
4 31 defined in chapter 29A, may, upon written application to the
4 32 department, order special registration plates with a national
4 33 guard processed emblem with the emblem designed by the
4 34 department in cooperation with the adjutant general which
4 35 emblem signifies that the applicant is a member of the
5 1 national guard. The application shall be approved by the
5 2 department in consultation with the adjutant general. The
5 3 special plate fees collected by the director under subsection
5 4 12, paragraph "a", from the issuance and annual validation of
5 5 letter=number designated and personalized national guard
5 6 plates shall be paid monthly to the treasurer of state and
5 7 credited to the road use tax fund. Notwithstanding section
5 8 423.43, and prior to the crediting of revenues to the road use
5 9 tax fund under section 423.43, subsection 1, paragraph "b",
5 10 the treasurer of state shall transfer monthly from those
5 11 revenues to the veterans license fee fund created in section
5 12 35A.11 the amount of the special fees collected in the
5 13 previous month for national guard plates. Special
5 14 registration plates with a national guard processed emblem
5 15 shall be surrendered, as provided in subsection 12, in
5 16 exchange for regular registration plates upon termination of
5 17 the owner's membership in the active national guard.
5 18 The surviving spouse of a person who was issued special
5 19 plates under this subsection may continue to use or apply for
5 20 and use the special plates subject to registration of the
5 21 special plates in the surviving spouse's name and upon payment
5 22 of the annual five=dollar special plate fee and the regular
5 23 annual registration fee for the vehicle. If the surviving
5 24 spouse remarries, the surviving spouse shall return the
5 25 special plates to the department and the department shall
5 26 issue regular registration plates to the surviving spouse.
5 27 17. PEARL HARBOR SPECIAL PLATES. An owner referred to in
5 28 subsection 12 who was at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as a member of
5 29 the armed services of the United States on December 7, 1941,
5 30 may, upon written application to the department, order special
5 31 registration plates with a Pearl Harbor processed emblem. The
5 32 emblem shall be designed by the department in consultation
5 33 with service organizations. The application is subject to
5 34 approval by the department. The special plate fees collected
5 35 by the director under subsection 12, paragraph "a", from the
6 1 issuance and annual validation of letter=number designated and
6 2 personalized Pearl Harbor plates shall be paid monthly to the
6 3 treasurer of state and credited to the road use tax fund.
6 4 Notwithstanding section 423.43, and prior to the crediting of
6 5 revenues to the road use tax fund under section 423.43,
6 6 subsection 1, paragraph "b", the treasurer of state shall
6 7 transfer monthly from those revenues to the veterans license
6 8 fee fund created in section 35A.11 the amount of the special
6 9 fees collected in the previous month for Pearl Harbor plates.
6 10 The surviving spouse of a person who was issued special
6 11 plates under this subsection may continue to use or apply for
6 12 and use the special plates subject to registration of the
6 13 special plates in the surviving spouse's name and upon payment
6 14 of the annual five=dollar special plate fee and the regular
6 15 annual registration fee for the vehicle. If the surviving
6 16 spouse remarries, the surviving spouse shall return the
6 17 special plates to the department and the department shall
6 18 issue regular registration plates to the surviving spouse.
6 19 18. PURPLE HEART SPECIAL PLATES. An owner referred to in
6 20 subsection 12 who was awarded a purple heart medal by the
6 21 United States government for wounds received in military or
6 22 naval combat against an armed enemy of the United States may,
6 23 upon written application to the department and presentation of
6 24 satisfactory proof of the award of the purple heart medal,
6 25 order special registration plates with a purple heart
6 26 processed emblem. The design of the emblem shall include a
6 27 representation of a purple heart medal and ribbon. The
6 28 application is subject to approval by the department in
6 29 consultation with the adjutant general. The special plate
6 30 fees collected by the director under subsection 12, paragraph
6 31 "a", from the issuance and annual validation of letter=number
6 32 designated and personalized purple heart plates shall be paid
6 33 monthly to the treasurer of state and credited to the road use
6 34 tax fund. Notwithstanding section 423.43, and prior to the
6 35 crediting of revenues to the road use tax fund under section
7 1 423.43, subsection 1, paragraph "b", the treasurer of state
7 2 shall transfer monthly from those revenues to the veterans
7 3 license fee fund created in section 35A.11 the amount of the
7 4 special fees collected in the previous month for purple heart
7 5 plates.
7 6 The surviving spouse of a person who was issued special
7 7 plates under this subsection may continue to use or apply for
7 8 and use the special plates subject to registration of the
7 9 special plates in the surviving spouse's name and upon payment
7 10 of the annual five=dollar special plate fee and the regular
7 11 annual registration fee for the vehicle. If the surviving
7 12 spouse remarries, the surviving spouse shall return the
7 13 special plates to the department and the department shall
7 14 issue regular registration plates to the surviving spouse.
7 15 19. UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES RETIRED SPECIAL PLATES. An
7 16 owner referred to in subsection 12 who is a retired member of
7 17 the United States armed forces may, upon written application
7 18 to the department and upon presentation of satisfactory proof
7 19 of membership, order special registration plates with a United
7 20 States armed forces retired processed emblem. The emblem
7 21 shall be designed by the department in consultation with
7 22 service organizations. The application is subject to approval
7 23 by the department. For purposes of this subsection, a person
7 24 is considered to be retired if the person is recognized by the
7 25 United States armed forces as retired from the United States
7 26 armed forces. The special plate fees collected by the
7 27 director under subsection 12, paragraph "a", from the issuance
7 28 and annual validation of letter=number designated and
7 29 personalized armed forces retired plates shall be paid monthly
7 30 to the treasurer of state and credited to the road use tax
7 31 fund. Notwithstanding section 423.43, and prior to the
7 32 crediting of revenues to the road use tax fund under section
7 33 423.43, subsection 1, paragraph "b", the treasurer of state
7 34 shall transfer monthly from those revenues to the veterans
7 35 license fee fund created in section 35A.11 the amount of the
8 1 special fees collected in the previous month for armed forces
8 2 retired plates.
8 3 The surviving spouse of a person who was issued special
8 4 plates under this subsection may continue to use or apply for
8 5 and use the special plates subject to registration of the
8 6 special plates in the surviving spouse's name and upon payment
8 7 of the annual five=dollar special plate fee and the regular
8 8 annual registration fee for the vehicle. If the surviving
8 9 spouse remarries, the surviving spouse shall return the
8 10 special plates to the department and the department shall
8 11 issue regular registration plates to the surviving spouse.
8 12 20. SILVER OR BRONZE STAR PLATES. An owner referred to in
8 13 subsection 12 who was awarded a silver or a bronze star by the
8 14 United States government, may, upon written application to the
8 15 department and presentation of satisfactory proof of the award
8 16 of the silver or bronze star, order special registration
8 17 plates with a silver or bronze star processed emblem. The
8 18 emblem shall be designed by the department in consultation
8 19 with the adjutant general. The special plate fees collected
8 20 by the director under subsection 12, paragraph "a", from the
8 21 issuance and annual validation of letter=number designated and
8 22 personalized silver star and bronze star plates shall be paid
8 23 monthly to the treasurer of state and credited to the road use
8 24 tax fund. Notwithstanding section 423.43, and prior to the
8 25 crediting of revenues to the road use tax fund under section
8 26 423.43, subsection 1, paragraph "b", the treasurer of state
8 27 shall transfer monthly from those revenues to the veterans
8 28 license fee fund created in section 35A.11 the amount of the
8 29 special fees collected in the previous month for silver star
8 30 and bronze star plates.
8 31 The surviving spouse of a person who was issued special
8 32 plates under this subsection may continue to use or apply for
8 33 and use the special plates subject to registration of the
8 34 special plates in the surviving spouse's name and upon payment
8 35 of the annual five=dollar special plate fee and the regular
9 1 annual registration fee for the vehicle. If the surviving
9 2 spouse remarries, the surviving spouse shall return the
9 3 special plates to the department and the department shall
9 4 issue regular registration plates to the surviving spouse.
9 5 Sec. 5. Section 321.34, Code 2007, is amended by adding
9 6 the following new subsections:
9 7 NEW SUBSECTION. 20A. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, NAVY, OR AIR
9 8 FORCE CROSS PLATES. An owner referred to in subsection 12 who
9 9 was awarded a distinguished service cross, a navy cross, or an
9 10 air force cross by the United States government may, upon
9 11 written application to the department and presentation of
9 12 satisfactory proof of the award, order special registration
9 13 plates with a distinguished service cross, navy cross, or air
9 14 force cross processed emblem. The emblem shall be designed by
9 15 the department in consultation with the adjutant general. The
9 16 special plate fees collected by the director under subsection
9 17 12, paragraph "a", from the issuance and annual validation of
9 18 letter=number designated and personalized distinguished
9 19 service cross, navy cross, and air force cross plates shall be
9 20 paid monthly to the treasurer of state and credited to the
9 21 road use tax fund. Notwithstanding section 423.43, and prior
9 22 to the crediting of revenues to the road use tax fund under
9 23 section 423.43, subsection 1, paragraph "b", the treasurer of
9 24 state shall transfer monthly from those revenues to the
9 25 veterans license fee fund created in section 35A.11 the amount
9 26 of the special fees collected in the previous month for
9 27 distinguished service cross, navy cross, and air force cross
9 28 plates.
9 29 The surviving spouse of a person who was issued special
9 30 plates under this subsection may continue to use or apply for
9 31 and use the special plates subject to registration of the
9 32 special plates in the surviving spouse's name and upon payment
9 33 of the annual five=dollar special plate fee and the regular
9 34 annual registration fee for the vehicle. If the surviving
9 35 spouse remarries, the surviving spouse shall return the
10 1 special plates to the department and the department shall
10 2 issue regular registration plates to the surviving spouse.
10 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 20B. SOLDIER'S, NAVY AND MARINE CORPS, OR
10 4 AIRMAN'S MEDAL PLATES. An owner referred to in subsection 12
10 5 who was awarded a soldier's medal, a navy and marine corps
10 6 medal, or an airman's medal by the United States government
10 7 may, upon written application to the department and
10 8 presentation of satisfactory proof of the award, order special
10 9 registration plates with a soldier's medal, navy and marine
10 10 corps medal, or airman's medal processed emblem. The emblem
10 11 shall be designed by the department in consultation with the
10 12 adjutant general. The special plate fees collected by the
10 13 director under subsection 12, paragraph "a", from the issuance
10 14 and annual validation of letter=number designated and
10 15 personalized soldier's medal, navy and marine corps medal, and
10 16 airman's medal plates shall be paid monthly to the treasurer
10 17 of state and credited to the road use tax fund.
10 18 Notwithstanding section 423.43, and prior to the crediting of
10 19 revenues to the road use tax fund under section 423.43,
10 20 subsection 1, paragraph "b", the treasurer of state shall
10 21 transfer monthly from those revenues to the veterans license
10 22 fee fund created in section 35A.11 the amount of the special
10 23 fees collected in the previous month for soldier's medal, navy
10 24 and marine corps medal, and airman's medal plates.
10 25 The surviving spouse of a person who was issued special
10 26 plates under this subsection may continue to use or apply for
10 27 and use the special plates subject to registration of the
10 28 special plates in the surviving spouse's name and upon payment
10 29 of the annual five=dollar special plate fee and the regular
10 30 annual registration fee for the vehicle. If the surviving
10 31 spouse remarries, the surviving spouse shall return the
10 32 special plates to the department and the department shall
10 33 issue regular registration plates to the surviving spouse.
10 34 Sec. 6. Section 321.166, subsections 2 and 9, Code 2007,
10 35 are amended to read as follows:
11 1 2. Every registration plate or pair of plates shall
11 2 display a registration plate number which shall consist of
11 3 alphabetical or numerical characters or a combination thereof
11 4 and the name of this state, which may be abbreviated. Every
11 5 registration plate issued by the county treasurer shall
11 6 display the name of the county, including any plate issued
11 7 pursuant to section 321.34, except Pearl Harbor and purple
11 8 heart registration plates issued prior to January 1, 1997, and
11 9 collegiate, fire fighter, and congressional medal of honor
11 10 registration plates. Special truck registration plates shall
11 11 display the word "special".
11 12 9. Special registration plates issued pursuant to section
11 13 321.34 beginning January 1, 1997, other than congressional
11 14 medal of honor, collegiate, fire fighter, and natural
11 15 resources registration plates, shall be consistent with the
11 16 design and color of regular registration plates but shall
11 17 provide a space on a portion of the plate for the purpose of
11 18 allowing the placement of a distinguishing processed emblem.
11 19 Special registration plates shall also comply with the
11 20 requirements for regular registration plates as provided in
11 21 this section to the extent the requirements are consistent
11 22 with the section authorizing a particular special vehicle
11 23 registration plate.
11 24 Sec. 7. EFFECTIVE DATES.
11 25 1. The following provisions of this Act take effect
11 26 January 1, 2008:
11 27 a. The portion of the section of this Act amending section
11 28 35A.11 that enacts new subsections 7 and 8.
11 29 b. The section of this Act amending section 321.34 by
11 30 adding new subsections 20A and 20B.
11 31 2. The remaining sections of this Act, being deemed of
11 32 immediate importance, take effect upon enactment.
11 33 HF 749
11 34 dea:nh/jg/25