1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to motor vehicles; providing for issuance of
1.3 	registration plates and stickers to motor vehicle
1.4 	dealers; providing for electronic transmission of
1.5 	motor vehicle transfers; authorizing an optional
1.6 	electronic transfer fee for electronic transfer of
1.7 	ownership records; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004,
1.8 	sections 168.27, by adding a subdivision; 168.33,
1.9 	subdivision 7, by adding a subdivision; 168.66,
1.10 	subdivision 14, by adding a subdivision.
1.11 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.12 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 168.27, is
1.13 	amended by adding a subdivision to read:
1.14 		Subd. 28.Distribution of plates and stickers. The
1.15 	commissioner may distribute registration plates and stickers to
1.16 	be held and issued by new and used motor vehicle dealers.  A
1.17 	dealer may issue registration plates and stickers only in
1.18 	conjunction with and at the time of the sale of a vehicle by the
1.19 	dealer.  A dealer permitted to hold and issue registration
1.20 	plates and stickers must be equipped with electronic
1.21 	transmission technology and trained in its use.  Before
1.22 	receiving registration plates and stickers under this
1.23 	subdivision a dealer must adopt and implement security and
1.24 	record keeping requirements satisfactory to the commissioner.
1.25 	The commissioner may revoke the authority granted under this
1.26 	subdivision for any violation of law or rule governing the
1.27 	issuance of registration plates and stickers, any violation of
1.28 	the dealer's security and record keeping plan, or any other
2.1 	action that in the commissioner's opinion adversely affects the
2.2 	registration system.  The dealer is financially responsible for
2.3 	the cost and tax value of any unaccounted inventory.

2.4 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 168.33,
2.5 	subdivision 7, is amended to read:
2.6 		Subd. 7.Filing fee.  (a) In addition to all other
2.7 	statutory fees and taxes, a filing fee of:
2.8 	(i) $4.50 is imposed on every motor vehicle registration
2.9 	renewal, excluding pro rate transactions; and
2.10 	(ii) $7 is imposed on every other type of vehicle
2.11 	transaction, including pro rate transactions;
2.12 	except that a filing fee may not be charged for a document
2.13 	returned for a refund or for a correction of an error made by
2.14 	the Department of Public Safety, a licensed auto dealer, or a
2.15 	deputy registrar.  The filing fee must be shown as a separate
2.16 	item on all registration renewal notices sent out by the
2.17 	department.  No filing fee or other fee may be charged for the
2.18 	permanent surrender of a certificate of title and license plates
2.19 	for a motor vehicle.
2.20 	(b) Filing fees collected under this subdivision by the
2.21 	department must be paid into the state treasury and credited to
2.22 	the highway user tax distribution fund, except fees for
2.23 	registrations of motor vehicles.  Filing fees collected for
2.24 	registrations of motor vehicles in conjunction with a title
2.25 	transfer or first application in this state must be paid into
2.26 	the state treasury with 50 percent of the money credited to the
2.27 	general fund and 50 percent credited to the highway user tax
2.28 	distribution fund.
2.29 	(c) A motor vehicle dealer shall retain $2.50 of each
2.30 	filing fee imposed under this subdivision for a completed
2.31 	transaction involving the sale of a motor vehicle to or by a
2.32 	licensed dealer, if the dealer electronically transmits the
2.33 	transaction to the department or deputy registrar.  The
2.34 	department shall develop procedures to implement this
2.35 	subdivision in consultation with the Minnesota Deputy Registrar
2.36 	Association and the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association.
3.1 	Deputy registrars shall not be prohibited from receiving and
3.2 	processing required documents supporting an electronic
3.3 	transaction.

3.4 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 168.33, is
3.5 	amended by adding a subdivision to read:
3.6 		Subd. 8a.Electronic transmission. If the commissioner
3.7 	accepts electronic transmission of a motor vehicle transfer and
3.8 	registration by a new or used motor vehicle dealer, a deputy
3.9 	registrar who is equipped with electronic transmission
3.10 	technology and trained in its use shall receive the filing fee
3.11 	provided for in subdivision 7 and review the transfer of each
3.12 	new or used motor vehicle to determine its genuineness and
3.13 	regularity before issuance of a certificate of title, and shall
3.14 	receive and retain the filing fee under subdivision 7, paragraph
3.15 	(a), clause (ii).

3.16 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 168.66,
3.17 	subdivision 14, is amended to read:
3.18 		Subd. 14.Cash sale price.  "Cash sale price" means the
3.19 	price at which the seller would in good faith sell to the buyer,
3.20 	and the buyer would in good faith buy from the seller, the motor
3.21 	vehicle which is the subject matter of the retail installment
3.22 	contract, if such sale were a sale for cash, instead of a retail
3.23 	installment sale.  The cash sale price may include any taxes,
3.24 	charges for delivery, servicing, repairing, or improving the
3.25 	motor vehicle, including accessories and their installation, and
3.26 	any other charges agreed upon between the parties.  The cash
3.27 	price may not include a documentary fee or document
3.28 	administration fee in excess of $50 for services actually
3.29 	rendered to, for, or on behalf of, the retail buyer in
3.30 	preparing, handling, and processing documents relating to the
3.31 	motor vehicle and the closing of the retail sale. "Documentary
3.32 	fee" and "document administration fee" do not include an
3.33 	optional electronic transfer fee as defined under subdivision 25.

3.34 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 168.66, is
3.35 	amended by adding a subdivision to read:
3.36 		Subd. 25.Optional electronic transfer fee. "Optional
4.1 	electronic transfer fee" means a charge for services agreed upon
4.2 	between the parties for electronic transmission of ownership
4.3 	records.  The charge must be separately stated and identified as
4.4 	"optional electronic transfer fee" on the sales agreement
4.5 	maintained under Minnesota Rules, part 7400.5200.  At least half
4.6 	of the fee must be paid to an electronic transmission service
4.7 	provider.