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 DMV charge 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 authorizes the sponsoring state agency to use these moneys to fund projects and programs that promote the state agency’s official policy, mission, or work.

This bill would require the State Coastal Conservancy to apply to the DMV to sponsor “The Endless Summer” specialized license plate for a coastal conservancy awareness program, as specified, and would require the DMV, in consultation with the State Coastal Conservancy, to design the license plate, including a surfer design associated with the movie “The Endless Summer” and the slogan “The Endless Summer,” as specified. The bill would require that the proceeds from those license plates, upon appropriation by the Legislature to the State Coastal Conservancy, be used to fund projects and programs that promote exposure to, and preservation of, surfing, its cultural heritage, and the coastal resources upon which the surfing environment depends. The bill would also require that projects and programs funded by these provisions be accessible to youth from low- and middle-income households lacking access to coastal resources and to youth with disabilities.