1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; expanding eligibility for firefighter special plates;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 168.12, subdivision 2b.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 168.12, subdivision 2b, is amended to read:
1.6 		Subd. 2b.Firefighters; special plates, rules. (a) The commissioner shall issue special 
1.7 	plates, or a single license plate in the case of a motorcycle plate, to any applicant who:
1.8 	(1) is either (i) a member of a fire department receiving state aid under chapter 69, has
1.9 	with a letter from the fire chief, and or (ii) an active firefighter for the Department of Natural 
1.10 	Resources, a tribal government, or a federal agency with a letter from the area supervisor;
1.11 	(2) is an owner of a passenger automobile, a one-ton pickup truck, or a motorcycle;
1.12 	(2) (3) pays a fee of $10 and any other fees required by this chapter;
1.13 	(3) (4) pays the registration tax required by this chapter for the motor vehicle; and
1.14 	(4) (5) complies with this chapter and rules governing the registration of motor vehicles 
1.15 	and licensing of drivers.
1.16 	(b) In lieu of the identification required under subdivision 1, the special plates must bear 
1.17 	an emblem of a Maltese Cross together with any numbers or characters prescribed by the 
1.18 	commissioner.
1.19 	(c) Special plates issued under this subdivision may only be used during the period that 
1.20 	the owner of the motor vehicle is a member of a fire department as specified in this 
1.21 	subdivision. When the individual to whom the special plates were issued is no longer a 
2.1 	member of a fire department or when the motor vehicle ownership is transferred, the owner 
2.2 	shall remove the special plates from the motor vehicle. If the commissioner receives written 
2.3 	notification that an individual is no longer qualified for these special plates, the commissioner 
2.4 	shall invalidate the plates and notify the individual of this action. The individual may retain 
2.5 	the plate only upon demonstrating compliance with the qualifications of this subdivision. 
2.6 	Upon removal or invalidation of the special plates or special motorcycle plate, the owner 
2.7 	or purchaser of the motor vehicle shall obtain regular plates, a regular motorcycle plate, or 
2.8 	special plates for the proper registration classification for the motor vehicle.
2.9 	(d) A special motorcycle license plate issued under this subdivision must be the same 
2.10 	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 or 
2.13 	jointly owned by the person to whom the plates were issued. On payment of a fee of $5, a 
2.14 	plate issued under this subdivision for a motorcycle may be transferred to another motorcycle 
2.15 	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, sections 
2.17 	14.001 to 14.69, to govern the issuance and use of the special plates authorized in this 
2.18 	subdivision.