1     
LICENSE PLATE OPTIONS

2     
2016 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Val L. Peterson

5     
Senate Sponsor: Todd Weiler

6     Cosponsors:
7     Jacob L. Anderegg
8     Johnny Anderson
9     Stewart Barlow
10     Melvin R. Brown
11     Scott H. Chew
12     LaVar Christensen
13     Kay J. Christofferson
14     Kim Coleman
15     Fred C. Cox
16     Rich Cunningham
17     Bruce R. Cutler
18     Brad M. Daw
19     Brad L. Dee
20     Sophia M. DiCaro
21     Jack R. Draxler
22     Susan Duckworth
Justin L. Fawson
Keith Grover
Stephen G. Handy
Timothy D. Hawkes
Sandra Hollins
Eric K. Hutchings
Ken Ivory
Michael S. Kennedy
Brad King
John Knotwell
David E. Lifferth
Mike K. McKell
Merrill F. Nelson
Michael E. Noel
Curtis Oda
Derrin Owens
Lee B. Perry
Dixon M. Pitcher
Kraig Powell
Paul Ray
Marc K. Roberts
Douglas V. Sagers
Scott D. Sandall
Mike Schultz
V. Lowry Snow
Robert M. Spendlove
Jon E. Stanard
Keven J. Stratton
Earl D. Tanner
Norman K Thurston
R. Curt Webb
John R. Westwood
Mark A. Wheatley
Brad R. Wilson
23     

24     LONG TITLE
25     General Description:
26          This bill designates the In God We Trust license plate as one of the standard issue
27     license plates.
28     Highlighted Provisions:

29          This bill:
30          ▸     adds the In God We Trust license plate as one of the standard options available; and
31          ▸     removes the In God We Trust license plate from the list of special group license
32     plates.
33     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
34          None
35     Other Special Clauses:
36          This bill provides a special effective date.
37     Utah Code Sections Affected:
38     AMENDS:
39          41-1a-402, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2015, Chapter 412
40          41-1a-418, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 37
41     

42     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
43          Section 1. Section 41-1a-402 is amended to read:
44          41-1a-402. Required colors, numerals, and letters -- Expiration.
45          (1) Each license plate shall have displayed on it:
46          (a) the registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it is issued;
47          (b) the name of the state; and
48          (c) a registration decal showing the date of expiration displayed in accordance with
49     Subsection (6).
50          (2) If registration is extended by affixing a registration decal to the license plate, the
51     expiration date of the decal governs the expiration date of the license plate.
52          (3) Except as provided in Subsection (4), each original license plate that is not one of
53     the special group license plates issued under Section 41-1a-418 shall be [a]:
54          (a) a statehood centennial license plate with the same color, design, and slogan as the
55     plates issued in conjunction with the statehood centennial; [or]
56          (b) a Ski Utah license plate[.]; or

57          (c) an In God We Trust license plate.
58          (4) Beginning on the date that the division determines the existing inventories of
59     statehood centennial license plates and Ski Utah license plates are exhausted, each license plate
60     that is not one of the special group license plates issued under Section 41-1a-418 shall:
61          (a) (i) display the "Life Elevated" slogan; and
62          [(b)] (ii) have a color and design approved by the 57th Legislature in the 2007 General
63     Session that features:
64          [(i)] (A) a skier with the "Greatest Snow on Earth" slogan; or
65          [(ii)] (B) Delicate Arch[.]; or
66          (b) be an In God We Trust license plate.
67          (5) (a) Except as provided under Subsection 41-1a-215(2), license plates shall be
68     renewed annually.
69          (b) (i) The division shall issue the vehicle owner a month decal and a year decal upon
70     the vehicle's first registration with the division.
71          (ii) The division shall issue the vehicle owner only a year decal upon subsequent
72     renewals of registration to validate registration renewal.
73          (6) The decals issued in accordance with Subsection (5) shall be applied as follows:
74          (a) for license plates issued beginning in 1974 through 1985, decals displayed on
75     license plates with black lettering on a white background shall be applied to the lower left-hand
76     corner of the rear of the license plate vehicles;
77          (b) decals displayed on statehood centennial license plates and on Ski Utah license
78     plates issued in accordance with Subsection (3) shall be applied to the upper left-hand corner of
79     the rear license plate;
80          (c) decals displayed on special group license plates issued in accordance with Section
81     41-1a-418 shall be applied to the upper right-hand corner of the license plate unless there is a
82     plate indentation on the upper left-hand corner of the license plate;
83          (d) decals displayed on license plates with the "Life Elevated" slogan issued in
84     accordance with Subsection (4) shall be applied in the upper left-hand corner for the month

85     decal and the upper right-hand corner for the year decal;
86          (e) decals displayed on license plates with the "In God We Trust" slogan issued in
87     accordance with Subsection (4)(b) shall be applied in the upper right-hand corner of the rear
88     license plate unless there is a plate indentation on the upper left-hand corner of the license
89     plate;
90          [(e)] (f) decals issued for truck tractors shall be applied to the front license plate in the
91     position described in Subsection (6)(a), (b), or (d);
92          [(f)] (g) decals issued for motorcycles shall be applied to the upper corner of the license
93     plate opposite the word "Utah"; and
94          [(g)] (h) decals displayed on license plates issued under Section 41-1a-416 shall be
95     applied as appropriate for the year of the plate.
96          (7) (a) The month decal issued in accordance with Subsection (5) shall be displayed on
97     the license plate in the left position.
98          (b) The year decal issued in accordance with Subsection (5) shall be displayed on the
99     license plate in the right position.
100          (8) The current year decal issued in accordance with Subsection (5) shall be placed
101     over the previous year decal.
102          (9) If a license plate, month decal, or year decal is lost or destroyed, a replacement shall
103     be issued upon application and payment of the fees required under Section 41-1a-1211 or
104     41-1a-1212.
105          (10) A violation of this section is an infraction.
106          Section 2. Section 41-1a-418 is amended to read:
107          41-1a-418. Authorized special group license plates.
108          (1) The division shall only issue special group license plates in accordance with this
109     section through Section 41-1a-422 to a person who is specified under this section within the
110     categories listed as follows:
111          (a) disability special group license plates issued in accordance with Section 41-1a-420;
112          (b) honor special group license plates, as in a war hero, which plates are issued for a:

113          (i) survivor of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor;
114          (ii) former prisoner of war;
115          (iii) recipient of a Purple Heart;
116          (iv) disabled veteran; or
117          (v) recipient of a gold star award issued by the United States Secretary of Defense;
118          (c) unique vehicle type special group license plates, as for historical, collectors value,
119     or other unique vehicle type, which plates are issued for:
120          (i) a special interest vehicle;
121          (ii) a vintage vehicle;
122          (iii) a farm truck; or
123          (iv) (A) until Subsection (1)(c)(iv)(B) or (4) applies, a vehicle powered by clean fuel as
124     defined in Section 59-13-102; or
125          (B) beginning on the effective date of rules made by the Department of Transportation
126     authorized under Subsection 41-6a-702(5)(b) and until Subsection (4) applies, a vehicle
127     powered by clean fuel that meets the standards established by the Department of Transportation
128     in rules authorized under Subsection 41-6a-702(5)(b);
129          (d) recognition special group license plates, which plates are issued for:
130          (i) a current member of the Legislature;
131          (ii) a current member of the United States Congress;
132          (iii) a current member of the National Guard;
133          (iv) a licensed amateur radio operator;
134          (v) a currently employed, volunteer, or retired firefighter until June 30, 2009;
135          (vi) an emergency medical technician;
136          (vii) a current member of a search and rescue team; or
137          (viii) a current honorary consulate designated by the United States Department of
138     State; [or]
139          [(ix) an individual that wants to recognize and honor American freedoms and values
140     through an In God We Trust license plate;]

141          (e) support special group license plates, as for a contributor to an institution or cause,
142     which plates are issued for a contributor to:
143          (i) an institution's scholastic scholarship fund;
144          (ii) the Division of Wildlife Resources;
145          (iii) the Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs;
146          (iv) the Division of Parks and Recreation;
147          (v) the Department of Agriculture and Food;
148          (vi) the Guardian Ad Litem Services Account and the Children's Museum of Utah;
149          (vii) the Boy Scouts of America;
150          (viii) spay and neuter programs through No More Homeless Pets in Utah;
151          (ix) the Boys and Girls Clubs of America;
152          (x) Utah public education;
153          (xi) programs that provide support to organizations that create affordable housing for
154     those in severe need through the Division of Real Estate;
155          (xii) the Department of Public Safety;
156          (xiii) programs that support Zion National Park;
157          (xiv) beginning on July 1, 2009, programs that provide support to firefighter
158     organizations;
159          (xv) programs that promote bicycle operation and safety awareness;
160          (xvi) programs that conduct or support cancer research;
161          (xvii) programs that create or support autism awareness;
162          (xviii) programs that create or support humanitarian service and educational and
163     cultural exchanges;
164          (xix) programs that conduct or support prostate cancer awareness, screening, detection,
165     or prevention;
166          (xx) programs that support and promote adoptions;
167          (xxi) programs that create or support civil rights education and awareness; or
168          (xxii) programs that support issues affecting women and children through an

169     organization affiliated with a national professional men's basketball organization.
170          (2) (a) The division may not issue a new type of special group license plate unless the
171     division receives:
172          (i) (A) a private donation for the start-up fee established under Section 63J-1-504 for
173     the production and administrative costs of providing the new special group license plates; or
174          (B) a legislative appropriation for the start-up fee provided under Subsection
175     (2)(a)(i)(A); and
176          (ii) beginning on January 1, 2012, and for the issuance of a support special group
177     license plate authorized in Section 41-1a-422, at least 500 completed applications for the new
178     type of support special group license plate to be issued with all fees required under this part for
179     the support special group license plate issuance paid by each applicant.
180          (b) (i) Beginning on January 1, 2012, each participating organization shall collect and
181     hold applications for support special group license plates authorized in Section 41-1a-422 on or
182     after January 1, 2012, until it has received at least 500 applications.
183          (ii) Once a participating organization has received at least 500 applications, it shall
184     submit the applications, along with the necessary fees, to the division for the division to begin
185     working on the design and issuance of the new type of support special group license plate to be
186     issued.
187          (iii) Beginning on January 1, 2012, the division may not work on the issuance or design
188     of a new support special group license plate authorized in Section 41-1a-422 until the
189     applications and fees required under this Subsection (2) have been received by the division.
190          (iv) The division shall begin issuance of a new support special group license plate
191     authorized in Section 41-1a-422 on or after January 1, 2012, no later than six months after
192     receiving the applications and fees required under this Subsection (2).
193          (c) (i) Beginning on July 1, 2009, the division may not renew a motor vehicle
194     registration of a motor vehicle that has been issued a firefighter recognition special group
195     license plate unless the applicant is a contributor as defined in Subsection
196     41-1a-422(1)(a)(ii)(D) to the Firefighter Support Restricted Account.

197          (ii) A registered owner of a vehicle that has been issued a firefighter recognition
198     special group license plate prior to July 1, 2009, upon renewal of the owner's motor vehicle
199     registration shall:
200          (A) be a contributor to the Firefighter Support Restricted Account as required under
201     Subsection (2)(c)(i); or
202          (B) replace the firefighter recognition special group license plate with a new license
203     plate.
204          (3) (a) Beginning on July 1, 2011, if a support special group license plate type
205     authorized in Section 41-1a-422 and issued on or after January 1, 2012, has fewer than 500
206     license plates issued each year for a three consecutive year time period that begins on July 1,
207     the division may not issue that type of support special group license plate to a new applicant
208     beginning on January 1 of the following calendar year after the three consecutive year time
209     period for which that type of support special group license plate has fewer than 500 license
210     plates issued each year.
211          (b) If the division is required to stop the issuance of a type of support special group
212     license plate authorized in Section 41-1a-422 under this Subsection (3), the division shall
213     report to the Transportation Interim Committee that the division will stop the issuance on or
214     before the November interim meeting of the year in which the commission determines to stop
215     the issuance of that type of support special group license plate.
216          (4) Beginning on July 1, 2011, the division may not issue to an applicant a unique
217     vehicle type license plate for a vehicle powered by clean fuel under Subsection (1)(c)(iv).
218          Section 3. Effective date.
219          This bill takes effect on January 1, 2017.