Report Title:

License Plates; Special

 

Description:

Allows each county to design environmental and cultural preservation license plates. Specifies design elements.

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1642

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to special license plates.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Findings and purpose. The legislature finds that the natural physical environment and cultural heritage of Hawaii are of significant value to the people of our State, and that a means to support such values would be worthy of State support.

The legislature further finds that during the past decade, funding to preserve and protect the environment has dropped dramatically, and that a permanent independent source of funding to increase funding would support protection efforts and education programs relating to the environment. The legislature further finds that other states have utilized license plate sales with great success as a way to raise money to protect the environment.

The purpose of this Act is to reaffirm the State’s commitment to the protection of Hawaii’s environment and the preservation of our unique cultural heritage by creating a long-term supplemental funding source generated from the voluntary purchase of environmental/cultural preservation license plates.

SECTION 2. Chapter 249, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§249- Special number plates; environmental and cultural preservation. (a) In addition to the number plates contracted on behalf of the counties, the directors of finance shall provide environmental/cultural preservation license plates for their respective counties.

(b) The design of the plates shall include an illustration of the taro plant to symbolize Hawaii's cultural and environmental heritage. The illustration shall be imprinted on the left side of the license plates in a manner similar to congressional and honorary consul license plates. The design shall be approved by the directors of finance and the county chiefs of police for their respective counties. The environmental or cultural preservation license plate shall be readily identifiable and distinguishable under actual traffic conditions. Except for color and design, environmental/cultural protection license plates shall comply with applicable law.

(c) The initial application fee and annual renewal fee for the environmental/cultural preservation license plate shall be designated in section 249-9.1. These fees shall not be refundable. The county directors of finance shall retain a portion of the fees collected under this section sufficient to cover the costs of administering the environmental/cultural preservation license plate program for their respective counties. Any remaining moneys shall be utilized to fund environmental and cultural programs as approved by the director of the office of environmental quality control.

(d) Registration certificates and license plates issued under this section shall not be transferred to any other person upon transfer of ownership of a vehicle, except upon application and payment of the fee as provided in this section. Prior to the transfer of ownership of the vehicle to another party, the environmental/cultural preservation license plates shall be surrendered to the county director of finance as a prerequisite to the issuance of replacement plates."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________