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168.1293 CERTAIN SPECIAL PLATES; AUTHORIZATION, DISCONTINUANCE.
    Subdivision 1. Definition. For purposes of this section and section 168.1297, "special plate"
means a plate authorized by sections 168.12, subdivisions 2b and 2e; 168.1235; and 168.129, to
have wording and graphics that differ from a Minnesota passenger vehicle plate.
    Subd. 2. Submissions to commissioner. (a) A person, legal entity, or other requester,
however organized, that plans to seek legislation establishing a new plate shall submit the
following information and fee to the commissioner:
(1) The requester shall submit a request for the special plate being sought, describing the
proposed plate in general terms, the purpose of the plate, and the proposed fee or minimum
contribution required for the plate.
(2) The requester shall submit the results of a scientific sample survey of Minnesota motor
vehicle owners that indicates that at least 10,000 motor vehicle owners intend to purchase the
proposed plate with the proposed fee or minimum contribution. The requester's plan to undertake
the survey must be reported to the commissioner before the survey is undertaken. The survey must
be performed independently of the requester by another person or legal entity, however organized,
that conducts similar sample surveys in the normal course of business.
(3) The requester shall submit an application fee of $20,000, to cover the cost of reviewing
the application for a new plate and developing the new special plate if authorized by law. State
funds may not be used to pay the application fee.
(4) The requester shall submit a marketing strategy that contains (i) short-term and long-term
marketing plans for the requested plate, and (ii) a financial analysis showing the anticipated
revenues and the planned expenditures of any fee or contribution derived from the requested plate.
(b) The requester shall submit the information required under paragraph (a) to the
commissioner at least 120 days before the convening of the next regular legislative session at
which the requester will submit the proposal.
    Subd. 3. Design; redesign. (a) If the proposed new special plate sought by the requester is
approved by law, the requester shall submit the proposed design for the plate to the commissioner
as soon as practicable, but not later than 120 days after the effective date of the law authorizing
issuance of the plate. The commissioner is responsible for selecting the final design for the special
plate.
(b) The requester that originally requested a special plate subsequently approved by law may
not submit a new design for the plate within the five years following the date of first issuance of
the plate unless the inventory of those plates has been exhausted. The requester may deplete the
remaining inventory of the plates by reimbursing the commissioner for the cost of the plates.
    Subd. 4. Refund of fee. If the special plate requested is not authorized in the legislative
session at which authorization was sought, the commissioner shall refund $17,500 of the
application fee to the requester.
    Subd. 5. Discontinuance of plate. (a) The commissioner shall discontinue the issuance or
renewal of any special plate authorized by sections 168.12, subdivisions 2b and 2e; 168.1235;
and 168.129, if (1) fewer than 1,000 sets of those plates are currently registered at the end of the
first six years during which the plates are available, or (2) fewer than 1,000 sets of those plates
are currently registered at the end of any subsequent two-year period following the first six
years of availability.
(b) The commissioner shall discontinue the issuance or renewal of any special plate
authorized by sections 168.12, subdivisions 2b and 2e; 168.1235; and 168.129, and distribution of
any contributions resulting from that plate, if the commissioner determines that (1) the fund or
requester receiving the contributions no longer exists, (2) the requester has stopped providing
services that are authorized to be funded from the contribution proceeds, (3) the requester has
requested discontinuance, or (4) contributions have been used in violation of subdivision 6.
(c) Nothing in this subdivision applies to plates issued under section 168.123, 168.124,
168.125, 168.1251, or 168.1255.
    Subd. 6. Use of contributions. Contributions made as a condition of obtaining a special
plate authorized by sections 168.12, subdivisions 2b and 2e; 168.1235; and 168.129, and interest
earned on the contributions, may not be spent for commercial or for-profit purposes.
    Subd. 7. Deposit of fee; appropriation. The commissioner shall deposit the application fee
under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (3), in the vehicle services operating account of the
special revenue fund under section 299A.705. An amount sufficient to pay the department's cost
in implementing and administering this section, including payment of refunds under subdivision
4, is appropriated to the commissioner.
History: 1Sp2003 c 19 art 2 s 23; 1Sp2005 c 6 art 2 s 17

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Revisor of Statutes