1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to motor vehicles; establishing special plates for retired firefighters; 
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 168.12, subdivision 2b, by adding a 
1.4 	subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 168.12, subdivision 2b, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 2b.Firefighters; special plates, rules. (a) The commissioner shall issue 
1.8 	special plates, or a single license plate in the case of a motorcycle plate, to any applicant 
1.9 	who:
1.10 	(1) is a member of a fire department receiving state aid under chapter 69, has a 
1.11 	letter from the fire chief, and is an owner of a passenger automobile as defined in section 
1.12 	168.002, subdivision 24, a one-ton pickup truck as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 
1.13 	21b, or a motorcycle as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 19;
1.14 	(2) pays a fee of $10 and any other fees required by this chapter;
1.15 	(3) pays the registration tax required by this chapter for the motor vehicle; and
1.16 	(4) complies with this chapter and rules governing the registration of motor vehicles 
1.17 	and licensing of drivers.
1.18 	(b) In lieu of the identification required under subdivision 1, the special plates must 
1.19 	bear an emblem of a Maltese Cross together with any numbers or characters prescribed by 
1.20 	the commissioner.
1.21 	(c) Special plates issued under this subdivision may only be used during the period 
1.22 	that the owner of the motor vehicle is a member of a fire department as specified in this 
1.23 	subdivision. When the individual to whom the special plates were issued is no longer a 
1.24 	member of a fire department or when the motor vehicle ownership is transferred, the 
2.1 	owner shall remove the special plates from the motor vehicle. If the commissioner 
2.2 	receives written notification that an individual is no longer qualified for these special 
2.3 	plates, the commissioner shall invalidate the plates and notify the individual of this 
2.4 	action. The individual may retain the plate only upon demonstrating compliance with the 
2.5 	qualifications of this subdivision. Upon removal or invalidation of the special plates, or 
2.6 	special motorcycle plate, either the owner or purchaser of the motor vehicle shall obtain 
2.7 	regular plates or, a regular motorcycle plate, or special plates for the proper registration 
2.8 	classification for the motor vehicle.
2.9 	(d) A special motorcycle license plate issued under this subdivision must be the 
2.10 	same size as a standard motorcycle license plate.
2.11 	(e) Upon payment of a fee of $5, plates issued under this subdivision for a passenger 
2.12 	automobile or truck may be transferred to another passenger automobile or truck owned 
2.13 	or jointly owned by the person to whom the plates were issued. On payment of a fee of 
2.14 	$5, a plate issued under this subdivision for a motorcycle may be transferred to another 
2.15 	motorcycle owned or jointly owned by the person to whom the plate was issued.
2.16 	(f) The commissioner may adopt rules under the Administrative Procedure Act, 
2.17 	sections 14.001 to 14.69, to govern the issuance and use of the special plates authorized 
2.18 	in this subdivision.

2.19 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 168.12, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.20 	to read:
2.21 		Subd. 2g.Retired firefighters; special plates. (a) The commissioner shall issue 
2.22 	special retired firefighters plates to an applicant who:
2.23 	(1) is a retired member of a fire department defined in section 299N.01, subdivision 
2.24 	2, has a letter from the fire chief and administrative officer of the local government unit 
2.25 	affirming that the applicant is a retired firefighter who served ten or more years and 
2.26 	separated in good standing, and is a registered owner of a passenger automobile, a one-ton 
2.27 	pickup truck, a recreational vehicle, or a motorcycle;
2.28 	(2) pays a fee of $10 for each set of license plates applied for along with any other 
2.29 	fees required by this chapter; and
2.30 	(3) complies with this chapter and rules governing registration of motor vehicles 
2.31 	and licensing of drivers.
2.32 	(b) The commissioner shall design the special plate emblem so that it is 
2.33 	distinguishable from the emblem on firefighter special plates issued under subdivision 2b.
3.1 	(c) On payment of a transfer fee of $5, plates issued under this subdivision may be 
3.2 	transferred to another passenger automobile, one-ton pickup truck, recreational vehicle, or 
3.3 	motorcycle registered to the individual to whom the special plates were issued.
3.4 	(d) Fees collected under this subdivision must be credited to the vehicle services 
3.5 	operating account in the special revenue fund.
3.6 	(e) This subdivision is exempt from section 168.1293.

3.7 	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 3.8 	This act is effective January 1, 2014.