<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>the commissioner to create new special license plates without legislative <br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>enactment;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 168.12, subdivision 2b, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>by adding subdivisions; 168.123, subdivision 1.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 168.12, subdivision 2b, is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>    Subd. 2b. <b>Firefighters; special plates, rules.</b> (a) The commissioner shall issue <br/>
<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>special plates, or a single license plate in the case of a motorcycle plate, to any applicant <br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>who:<br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>    (1) is a member of a fire department receiving state aid under chapter 69, has a <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>letter from the fire chief, and is an owner of a passenger automobile as defined in section <br/>
<statute_ref><a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>168.002, subdivision 24
         </statute_ref>, a one-ton pickup truck as defined in section 
         <statute_ref>168.002</statute_ref>, subdivision <br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>21b, or a motorcycle as defined in section 
         <statute_ref>168.002, subdivision 19</statute_ref>;<br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>    (2) pays a fee of $10 and any other fees required by this chapter;<br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>    (3) pays the registration tax required by this chapter for the motor vehicle; and<br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>    (4) complies with this chapter and rules governing the registration of motor vehicles <br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>and licensing of drivers.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>    (b) In lieu of the identification required under subdivision 1, the special plates must <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>bear an emblem of a Maltese Cross together with any numbers or characters prescribed by <br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>the commissioner.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>    (c) Special plates issued under this subdivision may only be used during the period <br/>
<a id="pl.1.23"></a><var>1.23</var>that the owner of the motor vehicle is a member of a fire department as specified in this <br/>
<a id="pl.1.24"></a><var>1.24</var>subdivision. When the individual to whom the special plates were issued is no longer a <br/>
<a id="pl.1.25"></a><var>1.25</var>member of a fire department or when the motor vehicle ownership is transferred, the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>owner shall remove the special plates from the motor vehicle. If the commissioner <br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>receives written notification that an individual is no longer qualified for these special <br/>
<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>plates, the commissioner shall invalidate the plates and notify the individual of this <br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>action. The individual may retain the plate only upon demonstrating compliance with the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>qualifications of this subdivision. Upon removal or invalidation of the special plates, or <br/>
<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>special motorcycle plate, either the owner or purchaser of the motor vehicle shall obtain <br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>regular plates or, a regular motorcycle plate, or special plates for the proper registration <br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>classification for the motor vehicle.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>    (d) A special motorcycle license plate issued under this subdivision must be the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>same size as a standard motorcycle license plate.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>    (e) Upon payment of a fee of $5, plates issued under this subdivision for a passenger <br/>
<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>automobile or truck may be transferred to another passenger automobile or truck owned <br/>
<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>or jointly owned by the person to whom the plates were issued. On payment of a fee of <br/>
<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>$5, a plate issued under this subdivision for a motorcycle may be transferred to another <br/>
<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>motorcycle owned or jointly owned by the person to whom the plate was issued.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>    (f) The commissioner may adopt rules under the Administrative Procedure Act, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>sections 
         <statute_ref>14.001</statute_ref> to 
         <statute_ref>14.69</statute_ref>, to govern the issuance and use of the special plates authorized <br/>
<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>in this subdivision.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.2.0"></a><a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 168.12, is amended by adding a subdivision <br/>
<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>    Subd. 2g. <b>Special plate authority.</b> The commissioner has the authority, without <br/>
<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>legislative enactment, to create new special plates, to approve their design, to establish <br/>
<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>fees for issuance, and to prescribe eligibility requirements.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.3.0"></a><a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 168.12, is amended by adding a subdivision <br/>
<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>    Subd. 2h. <b>Retired firefighters; special plates.</b> (a) The commissioner shall issue <br/>
<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>special retired firefighters plates to an applicant who:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var>(1) is a retired member of a fire department defined in section 299N.01, subdivision <br/>
<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>2, has a letter from the fire chief and administrative officer of the local government unit <br/>
<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>affirming that the applicant is a retired firefighter who served ten or more years and <br/>
<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>separated in good standing, and is a registered owner of a passenger automobile, a one-ton <br/>
<a id="pl.2.32"></a><var>2.32</var>pickup truck, a recreational vehicle, or a motorcycle;<br/>
<a id="pl.2.33"></a><var>2.33</var>(2) pays a fee of $10 for each set of license plates applied for along with any other <br/>
<a id="pl.2.34"></a><var>2.34</var>fees required by this chapter; and<br/>
<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>(3) complies with this chapter and rules governing registration of motor vehicles <br/>
<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>and licensing of drivers.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var>(b) The commissioner shall design the special plate emblem so that it is <br/>
<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>distinguishable from the emblem on firefighter special plates issued under subdivision 2b.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>(c) On payment of a transfer fee of $5, plates issued under this subdivision may be <br/>
<a id="pl.3.6"></a><var>3.6</var>transferred to another passenger automobile, one-ton pickup truck, recreational vehicle, or <br/>
<a id="pl.3.7"></a><var>3.7</var>motorcycle registered to the individual to whom the special plates were issued.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.8"></a><var>3.8</var>(d) Fees collected under this subdivision must be credited to the vehicle services <br/>
<a id="pl.3.9"></a><var>3.9</var>operating account in the special revenue fund.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.10"></a><var>3.10</var>(e) This subdivision is exempt from section 168.1293.<br/>
<br/>
<a id="bill.0.4.0"></a><a id="pl.3.11"></a><var>3.11</var>    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 168.123, subdivision 1, is amended to read:<br/>
<a id="pl.3.12"></a><var>3.12</var>    Subdivision 1. <b>General requirements; fees.</b> (a) On payment of a fee of $10 for <br/>
<a id="pl.3.13"></a><var>3.13</var>each set of two plates, or for a single plate in the case of a motorcycle plate, payment of <br/>
<a id="pl.3.14"></a><var>3.14</var>the registration tax required by law, and compliance with other applicable laws relating to <br/>
<a id="pl.3.15"></a><var>3.15</var>vehicle registration and licensing, as applicable, the commissioner shall issue:<br/>
<a id="pl.3.16"></a><var>3.16</var>(1) special veteran's plates to an applicant who served in the active military service <br/>
<a id="pl.3.17"></a><var>3.17</var>in a branch of the armed forces of the United States or of a nation or society allied with the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.18"></a><var>3.18</var>United States in conducting a foreign war, was discharged under honorable conditions, and <br/>
<a id="pl.3.19"></a><var>3.19</var>is a registered owner of a passenger automobile as defined in section 
         <statute_ref>168.002</statute_ref>, subdivision <br/>
<a id="pl.3.20"></a><var>3.20</var>24, recreational motor vehicle as defined in section 
         <statute_ref>168.002, subdivision 27</statute_ref>, or one-ton <br/>
<a id="pl.3.21"></a><var>3.21</var>pickup truck as defined in section 
         <statute_ref>168.002, subdivision 21b</statute_ref>, but which is not a commercial <br/>
<a id="pl.3.22"></a><var>3.22</var>motor vehicle as defined in section 
         <statute_ref>169.011, subdivision 16</statute_ref>; or<br/>
<a id="pl.3.23"></a><var>3.23</var>(2) a veteran's special motorcycle plate as described in subdivision 2, paragraph <br/>
<a id="pl.3.24"></a><var>3.24</var>(a), (e), (f), (h), (i), or (j), or another special plate designed by the commissioner to <br/>
<a id="pl.3.25"></a><var>3.25</var>an applicant who is a registered owner of a motorcycle as defined in section 
         <statute_ref>168.002, <br/>
<a id="pl.3.26"></a><var>3.26</var>subdivision 19
         </statute_ref>, and meets the criteria listed in this paragraph and in subdivision 2, <br/>
<a id="pl.3.27"></a><var>3.27</var>paragraph (a), (e), (f), (h), (i), or (j). Plates issued under this clause must be the same size <br/>
<a id="pl.3.28"></a><var>3.28</var>as regular motorcycle plates. Special motorcycle license plates issued under this clause <br/>
<a id="pl.3.29"></a><var>3.29</var>are not subject to section 
         <statute_ref>168.1293</statute_ref>.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.30"></a><var>3.30</var>(b) The additional fee of $10 is payable for each set of veteran's plates, is payable <br/>
<a id="pl.3.31"></a><var>3.31</var>only when the plates are issued, and is not payable in a year in which stickers are issued <br/>
<a id="pl.3.32"></a><var>3.32</var>instead of plates.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.33"></a><var>3.33</var>(c) The veteran must have a certified copy of the veteran's discharge papers, <br/>
<a id="pl.3.34"></a><var>3.34</var>indicating character of discharge, at the time of application. If an applicant served in the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.35"></a><var>3.35</var>active military service in a branch of the armed forces of a nation or society allied with the <br/>
<a id="pl.4.1"></a><var>4.1</var>United States in conducting a foreign war and is unable to obtain a record of that service <br/>
<a id="pl.4.2"></a><var>4.2</var>and discharge status, the commissioner of veterans affairs may certify the applicant as <br/>
<a id="pl.4.3"></a><var>4.3</var>qualified for the veterans' plates provided under this section.<br/>