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AB-2131 Specialized license plates.(2015-2016)

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AB2131:v95#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 18, 2016
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 06, 2016
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 31, 2016
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 15, 2016

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2015–2016 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2131

Introduced by Assembly Member Maienschein

February 17, 2016

An act to add Section 5173 to the Vehicle Code, relating to license plates, and making an appropriation therefor.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2131, as amended, Maienschein. Specialized license plates.
Existing law establishes a specialized license plate program and requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue specialized license plates on behalf of a sponsoring state agency that meets certain requirements. Existing law requires that the department DMV charge specified additional fees for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of specialized license plates, and requires the DMV to deposit the fees, less the DMV’s costs, into the Specialized License Plate Fund. Existing law requires that moneys in the fund be allocated, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to each sponsoring agency in proportion to the amount that is attributable to the agency’s specialized license plate program. Existing law requires the sponsoring state agency to use these moneys exclusively to fund projects and programs that promote the state agency’s official policy, mission, or work. Existing law establishes the Food Bank Advisory Committee and requires the committee to advise the Department of Food and Agriculture on the establishment of new food banks and to advise on the adequate and efficient distribution of surplus food commodities to all areas of the state.
This bill would require the Department of Food and Agriculture to apply to the DMV to sponsor an Imagine license plate bearing an image of John Lennon and the word “Imagine” under the numerical series. The bill would direct the DMV to deposit the additional revenue from these license plates into the Imagine Account, which the bill would create. The bill would continuously appropriate moneys in the Imagine Account to the Department of Food and Agriculture for allocation to a nonprofit organization for the purpose of funding grants to local food banks. The bill would require the Department of Food and Agriculture to determine eligibility requirements for food banks receiving the funds under the Imagine program and to develop program specifics. The bill would authorize the Department of Food and Agriculture to contract with an entity, including a nonprofit organization, to provide advice, consultation, and administrative services for purposes of implementing and administering the Imagine program. The bill would require the Department of Food and Agriculture to provide oversight for the program and would limit the nonprofit selected by the department from using more than 5 percent of the moneys received for its administrative costs.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: YES   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 5173 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

5173.
 (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the revenue from the “Imagine” license plates issued pursuant to this section be used to help food banks end hunger in California.
(b) The Department of Food and Agriculture shall apply to the department to sponsor the Imagine license plate program pursuant to this article.
(c) Except for environmental license plate fees, the fees specified in Section 5157 shall be imposed for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of the Imagine license plates. Imagine license plates may be issued as environmental license plates with no additional fee.
(d) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 5157, after deducting its administrative costs, the department shall deposit the revenue derived from the additional fees into the Imagine Account, which is hereby established in the Specialized License Plate Fund. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, all moneys in the account are continuously appropriated without regard to fiscal years to the Department of Food and Agriculture for the purposes specified in this section. The Department of Food and Agriculture shall allocate these funds to a nonprofit organization that has authorization to utilize the image described in subdivision (e), for the sole and exclusive purpose of funding food banks in accordance with paragraph (2), to help end hunger in California.
(2) The Department of Food and Agriculture shall determine eligibility requirements for food banks receiving funds through the Imagine program and develop program specifics. The Department of Food and Agriculture may contract with an entity, including a nonprofit organization, to provide advice, consultation, and administrative services for purposes of implementing and administering the grant Imagine program. The Department of Food and Agriculture shall provide oversight for the Imagine program.
(3) The nonprofit organization selected by the Department of Food and Agriculture shall not use more than 5 percent of the moneys received pursuant to this section for administrative costs.
(e)  License plates issued pursuant to this section shall contain an image of a duly licensed self-portrait of John Lennon to the left of the numerical series. The license plates shall also bear the word “Imagine” under the numerical series. The department shall obtain the necessary consent from the persons described in subdivision (c) of Section 3344.1 of the Civil Code.