<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>discontinuance of special plates;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections <br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>168.002, by adding a subdivision; 168.123, by adding a subdivision; 168.1293.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168.002, is amended by adding a <br/>
<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>subdivision to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>    Subd. 31a. <b>Special plates.</b> Unless otherwise specified, "special plates" or "special <br/>
<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>plate" means plates, or a single motorcycle plate, that are designed with wording or <br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>graphics that differ from a regular Minnesota passenger automobile plate or motorcycle <br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>plate.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective the day following final enactment.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.2.0"></a><a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168.123, is amended by adding a subdivision <br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>    Subd. 2b. <b>Eligibility; combat wounded plate.</b> A member of the United States <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>armed forces who is serving actively in the military and who is a recipient of the purple <br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>heart medal is also eligible for the license plate under subdivision 2, paragraph (e). The <br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>commissioner of public safety shall ensure that information regarding the required proof <br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>of eligibility for any applicant under this subdivision who has not yet been issued military <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>discharge papers is distributed to the public officials responsible for administering this <br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>section. <br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective August 1, 2010.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.3.0"></a><a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168.1293, is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var><b>168.1293 CERTAIN SPECIAL PLATES; AUTHORIZATION, </b><br/>
<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var><b>DISCONTINUANCE.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>    Subdivision 1. <b>Definition.</b> For purposes of this section and section 
<statute_ref>168.1297</statute_ref>, the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>following terms have the meanings given them:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>(1) "new special plate" or "proposed special plate" means a special plate authorized <br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>by sections 
<statute_ref>168.12, subdivisions 2b and 2e</statute_ref>; 
<statute_ref>168.1235</statute_ref>; and 
<statute_ref>168.129</statute_ref>, to have wording and <br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>graphics that differ from a Minnesota passenger vehicle plate. that is not authorized under <br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>this chapter and for which legislation authorizing the plate, including but not limited to a <br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>bill or amendment, is introduced or presented to the legislature; and<br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>(2) "proximate special plate" means a special plate (i) authorized under section <br/>
<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var><statute_ref>168.12, subdivisions 2b and 2e</statute_ref>; 
<statute_ref>168.1235</statute_ref>; or 
<statute_ref>168.129</statute_ref>; or (ii) authorized in law on or <br/>
<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>after August 1, 2010.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>    Subd. 1a. <b>Establishment of plate.</b> The commissioner may only establish a special <br/>
<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>plate as authorized under this chapter. This requirement does not apply to alternative <br/>
<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>or additional designs for a special plate.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>    Subd. 2. <b>Submissions to commissioner.</b> (a) A person, legal entity, or other <br/>
<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>requester, however organized, that plans to seek legislation establishing a new special <br/>
<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>plate, or is a proponent of a new special plate, shall submit the following information and <br/>
<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>fee to the commissioner:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>(1) The requester shall submit a request for the special plate being sought, describing <br/>
<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>the proposed special plate in general terms, the purpose of the plate, and the proposed fee <br/>
<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>or minimum contribution required for the plate.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>(2) The requester shall submit the results of a scientific sample survey of Minnesota <br/>
<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>motor vehicle owners that indicates that at least 10,000 motor vehicle owners intend <br/>
<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>to purchase the proposed plate with the proposed fee or minimum contribution. The <br/>
<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>requester's plan to undertake the survey must be reported to the commissioner before the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var>survey is undertaken. The survey must be performed independently of the requester by <br/>
<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>another person or legal entity, however organized, that conducts similar sample surveys <br/>
<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>in the normal course of business.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>(3) The requester shall submit an application fee of $20,000, to cover the cost of <br/>
<a id="pl.2.32"></a><var>2.32</var>reviewing the application for a new plate and developing the new special plate if authorized <br/>
<a id="pl.2.33"></a><var>2.33</var>by law. State funds may not be used to pay the application fee. This requirement does not <br/>
<a id="pl.2.34"></a><var>2.34</var>apply if legislation or a bill introduced to the legislature proposing the new special plate <br/>
<a id="pl.2.35"></a><var>2.35</var>contains a mechanism by which all costs incurred by the commissioner for development <br/>
<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>and implementation of the plate are covered, provided that the application fee subsequently <br/>
<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>does apply if such a mechanism is not enacted in the law authorizing the new special plate.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var>(4) The requester shall submit a marketing strategy that contains (i) short-term and <br/>
<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>long-term marketing plans for the requested plate, and (ii) a financial analysis showing <br/>
<a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>the anticipated revenues and the planned expenditures of any fee or contribution derived <br/>
<a id="pl.3.6"></a><var>3.6</var>from the requested plate.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.7"></a><var>3.7</var>(b) The requester shall submit the information required under paragraph (a) to the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.8"></a><var>3.8</var>commissioner at least 120 days before the convening of the next regular legislative session <br/>
<a id="pl.3.9"></a><var>3.9</var>at which the requester will submit the proposal.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.10"></a><var>3.10</var>    Subd. 2a. <b>Information for legislature.</b> (a) Within 15 days of the introduction of a <br/>
<a id="pl.3.11"></a><var>3.11</var>bill proposing a new special plate, the commissioner shall submit a briefing to the chairs <br/>
<a id="pl.3.12"></a><var>3.12</var>and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees to <br/>
<a id="pl.3.13"></a><var>3.13</var>which the bill was referred. At a minimum, the briefing must:<br/>
<a id="pl.3.14"></a><var>3.14</var>(1) summarize the requirements for a special plate under this section; and<br/>
<a id="pl.3.15"></a><var>3.15</var>(2) identify which of the requirements have been met for the proposed special plate.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.16"></a><var>3.16</var>(b) If a proposed special plate is a topic of discussion at a legislative committee <br/>
<a id="pl.3.17"></a><var>3.17</var>hearing, the commissioner shall make every reasonable effort to provide testimony. The <br/>
<a id="pl.3.18"></a><var>3.18</var>testimony must include the information required in the briefing under paragraph (a).<br/>
<a id="pl.3.19"></a><var>3.19</var>(c) Notwithstanding section 3.195, the commissioner may submit the briefing under <br/>
<a id="pl.3.20"></a><var>3.20</var>paragraph (a) by submitting an electronic version rather than a printed version.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.21"></a><var>3.21</var>    Subd. 3. <b>Design; redesign.</b> (a) If the proposed new special plate sought by the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.22"></a><var>3.22</var>requester is approved by law, the requester shall submit the proposed design for the plate <br/>
<a id="pl.3.23"></a><var>3.23</var>to the commissioner as soon as practicable, but not later than 120 days after the effective <br/>
<a id="pl.3.24"></a><var>3.24</var>date of the law authorizing issuance of the plate. The commissioner is responsible for <br/>
<a id="pl.3.25"></a><var>3.25</var>selecting the final design for the special plate.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.26"></a><var>3.26</var>(b) The requester that originally requested a new special plate subsequently approved <br/>
<a id="pl.3.27"></a><var>3.27</var>by law may not submit a new design for the plate within the five years following the date <br/>
<a id="pl.3.28"></a><var>3.28</var>of first issuance of the plate unless the inventory of those plates has been exhausted. <br/>
<a id="pl.3.29"></a><var>3.29</var>The requester may deplete the remaining inventory of the plates by reimbursing the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.30"></a><var>3.30</var>commissioner for the cost of the plates.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.31"></a><var>3.31</var>    Subd. 4. <b>Refund of fee.</b> If the special plate requested is not authorized in the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.32"></a><var>3.32</var>legislative session at which authorization was sought, the commissioner shall, if <br/>
<a id="pl.3.33"></a><var>3.33</var>applicable, refund $17,500 of the application fee to the requester.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.34"></a><var>3.34</var>    Subd. 5. <b>Discontinuance of plate.</b> (a) The commissioner shall discontinue the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.35"></a><var>3.35</var>issuance or renewal of any proximate special plate authorized by sections 
<statute_ref>168.12, <br/>
<a id="pl.3.36"></a><var>3.36</var>subdivisions 2b and 2e
</statute_ref>; 
<statute_ref>168.1235</statute_ref>; and 
<statute_ref>168.129</statute_ref>, if (1) fewer than 1,000 sets of those <br/>
<a id="pl.4.1"></a><var>4.1</var>plates are currently registered at the end of the first six years during which the plates are <br/>
<a id="pl.4.2"></a><var>4.2</var>available, or (2) fewer than 1,000 sets of those plates are currently registered at the end of <br/>
<a id="pl.4.3"></a><var>4.3</var>any subsequent two-year period following the first six years of availability.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.4"></a><var>4.4</var>(b) The commissioner shall discontinue the issuance or renewal of any proximate <br/>
<a id="pl.4.5"></a><var>4.5</var>special plate authorized by sections 
<statute_ref>168.12, subdivisions 2b and 2e</statute_ref>; 
<statute_ref>168.1235</statute_ref>; <br/>
<a id="pl.4.6"></a><var>4.6</var>and 
<statute_ref>168.129</statute_ref>, and distribution of any contributions resulting from that plate, if the <br/>
<a id="pl.4.7"></a><var>4.7</var>commissioner determines that (1) the fund or requester receiving the contributions no <br/>
<a id="pl.4.8"></a><var>4.8</var>longer exists, (2) the requester has stopped providing services that are authorized to be <br/>
<a id="pl.4.9"></a><var>4.9</var>funded from the contribution proceeds, (3) the requester has requested discontinuance, or <br/>
<a id="pl.4.10"></a><var>4.10</var>(4) contributions have been used in violation of subdivision 6.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.11"></a><var>4.11</var>(c) Nothing in this subdivision applies to plates issued under section 
         <statute_ref>168.123</statute_ref>, <br/>
<statute_ref><a id="pl.4.12"></a><var>4.12</var>168.124
         </statute_ref>, 
         <statute_ref>168.125</statute_ref>, 
         <statute_ref>168.1251</statute_ref>, or 
         <statute_ref>168.1255</statute_ref>.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.13"></a><var>4.13</var>(d) Upon commencing discontinuance of a proximate special plate under this <br/>
<a id="pl.4.14"></a><var>4.14</var>subdivision, the commissioner (1) shall not issue the plate, including as a duplicate; and <br/>
<a id="pl.4.15"></a><var>4.15</var>(2) shall allow retention of any existing plate for the regular period. For purposes of this <br/>
<a id="pl.4.16"></a><var>4.16</var>paragraph, "regular period" may be, as appropriate, the period specified under section <br/>
<a id="pl.4.17"></a><var>4.17</var>168.12, subdivision 1; the time until issuance of a duplicate plate for that vehicle; or as <br/>
<a id="pl.4.18"></a><var>4.18</var>otherwise provided by law.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.19"></a><var>4.19</var>    Subd. 6. <b>Use of contributions.</b> Contributions made as a condition of obtaining a <br/>
<a id="pl.4.20"></a><var>4.20</var>proximate special plate authorized by sections 
<statute_ref>168.12, subdivisions 2b and 2e</statute_ref>; 
<statute_ref>168.1235</statute_ref>; <br/>
<a id="pl.4.21"></a><var>4.21</var>and 
<statute_ref>168.129</statute_ref>, and interest earned on the contributions, may not be spent for commercial or <br/>
<a id="pl.4.22"></a><var>4.22</var>for-profit purposes.<br/>
<a id="pl.4.23"></a><var>4.23</var>    Subd. 7. <b>Deposit of fee; appropriation.</b> The commissioner shall deposit the <br/>
<a id="pl.4.24"></a><var>4.24</var>application fee under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (3), in the vehicle services <br/>
<a id="pl.4.25"></a><var>4.25</var>operating account of the special revenue fund under section 
         <statute_ref>299A.705</statute_ref>. An amount <br/>
<a id="pl.4.26"></a><var>4.26</var>sufficient to pay the department's cost in implementing and administering this section, <br/>
<a id="pl.4.27"></a><var>4.27</var>including payment of refunds under subdivision 4, is appropriated to the commissioner.<br/>