SB 0038

AN ACT authorizing special number plates for firefighters.

SPONSORS: Sen. Gallus, Dist 1; Sen. Odell, Dist 8; Rep. Dickinson, Carr 4; Rep. Guay, Coos 2; Rep. Woodward, Coos 3

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Subparagraph; Department of Safety; Rulemaking Authority; Motor Vehicle Registration; Firefighter Number Plates. Amend RSA 21-P:14, III by inserting after subparagraph (ii) the following new subparagraph:

2 New Section; Certificates of Title and Registration of Vehicles; Firefighter Number Plates. Amend RSA 261 by inserting after section 91 the following new section:

I. The director shall design and issue, with the approval of the commissioner, special number plates to be affixed to the personal vehicles of firefighters. Such plates shall be issued only upon application with proof of firefighter status, and upon payment of a one-time $30 fee to cover production and administrative costs that shall be in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee and any other number plate fees otherwise required. Renewals of such special number plates shall be charged the fee assessed for standard motor vehicles as prescribed under RSA 261:141. The application shall be signed by the fire chief to verify that the applicant is a firefighter.

II. For the purposes of this section, a firefighter is a person who has the authority and responsibility to engage in the prevention, control, or extinguishment of fires, and who performs activities that are required for and directly concerned with the prevention, control, or extinguishment of fires, including incidental non-firefighting functions.

III. A firefighter who is issued plates under paragraph I shall return those plates to the division of motor vehicles no later than 10 days after the firefighter leaves his or her position. When the firefighter leaves his or her position, the fire chief shall immediately notify the director.

The Department of Safety determined this bill, as amended by the Senate (Senate Amendment #2003-0279s), will increase state restricted revenue by $150,000 and restricted expenditures by $97,500 in FY 2004. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local revenue or expenditures.

The Department stated this bill will establish special number plates for the personal vehicles of firefighters. There will be a one-time fee of $30, plus the normal annual registration and plate fees already established. Although the number of firefighters who will choose to purchase these plates us unknown, the Department will use for this purpose the minimum number of plates for any new issue of 5,000 pairs. The Department estimates that the minimum startup costs of any new plate issue are $30,000 for various items, such as computer time, planning time, artist fees, special printing, handling, and accounting. In addition, the cost to manufacture the minimum issue of 5,000 pairs of plates is approximately $67,500, for a total minimum cost of $97,500. Assuming these plates will be issued and renewed, then manufacturing costs will only occur in the first year.