HOUSE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL 561

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; CREATING A HERITAGE SERIES OF REGISTRATION PLATES; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Motor Vehicle Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] HERITAGE REGISTRATION PLATES--PROCEDURES--FEES.--

          A. The department shall issue a series of heritage registration plates with logos designed in accordance with this section. The series of heritage registration plates symbolizes some of the major factors, events, persons and natural resources that have ushered the state into its second century of statehood. The series of heritage registration plates shall include:

                (1) New Mexico agriculture, represented by a depiction of one or more chile peppers, the fruit from Capsicum annuum;

                (2) New Mexico arts, represented by a depiction of a squash blossom necklace; 

                (3) the atomic age, represented by a depiction of a circular representation of orbiting atomic molecules;

                (4) aviation, represented by a depiction of the Double Eagle II hot air balloon;

                (5) Carlsbad Caverns, represented by a depiction of a bat that can be found in the state;

                (6) cattlemen, represented by the logo of the New Mexico cattlemen's association if intellectual property rights are obtained, or by a depiction of two cowboy boots and a cowboy hat;

                (7) the duke of Albuquerque, represented by a depiction of Don Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, the eighth duke of Albuquerque;

                (8) the film industry, represented by a depiction of a camera on a tripod;

                (9) the horned lizard, represented by a depiction of horned lizards of the Phrynosoma genus;

                (10) Las Cruces, represented by a depiction of the three crosses that represent the legend of the burial of the Mexican military and missionary caravan party;

                (11) Merriam's wild turkey, represented by a depiction of Meleagris gallopavo merriami;

                (12) miners, represented by a depiction of a mining helmet with a head lamp;

                (13) oilmen, represented by a depiction of an oil derrick or pumpjack;

                (14) railroaders, represented by a depiction of a locomotive or the logo of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railway or of another railway that does or did exist in New Mexico;

                (15) the roadrunner, represented by a depiction of the state bird;

                (16) route 66, using the logo depicted on the route 66 commemorative registration plate issued pursuant to Section 66-3-424.8 NMSA 1978;

                (17) the space age, represented by a depiction of the green alien figure represented on the seal of the city of Roswell;

                (18) the yucca, represented by a depiction of the state flower;

                (19) the Zia symbol, represented by a depiction of the Zia sun symbol placed within an outline of a map of New Mexico; and

                (20) others as the secretary may determine.

          B. The series of heritage plates may include Smokey Bear, using the logo and tagline set out by the United States forest service, if the use is approved by the United States forest service.

          C. The design of registration plates in the heritage registration plate series shall be at the discretion of the secretary, provided that all plates in the series display:

                (1) the colors of the state flag, red lettering and a red border stripe on a yellow background; provided that the particular heritage registration plate logo may contain colors other than yellow and red;

                (2) the words "Land of Enchantment" between the top mounting holes; provided that, in lieu of the words "Land of Enchantment" between the top mounting holes:

                     (a) as determined by the secretary, the registration plate with the route 66 logo may display the words "The Mother Road";

                     (b) the registration plate with Smokey Bear, if created, shall display the words "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.";

                     (c) the registration plate with a depiction of one or more chile peppers shall display the words "Red or green?"; and

                     (d) the registration plate with a depiction of a camera on a tripod shall display the words "Television and Film";

                (3) the words "New Mexico" between the bottom mounting holes;

                (4) "15" on the lower left; and

                (5) five letters, numbers, characters or spaces.

          D. The secretary shall make at least five new heritage registration plates available each calendar year beginning in 2015 until the list of heritage registration plates described in Subsection A of this section is exhausted. Once the current supply of route 66 commemorative registration plates issued pursuant to Section 66-3-424.8 NMSA 1978 is exhausted, the secretary shall no longer issue route 66 commemorative registration plates pursuant to Section 66-3-424.8 NMSA 1978 but shall issue route 66 registration plates issued pursuant to this section.

          E. For a fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00), which is in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, the owner of a vehicle may apply for issuance of a heritage registration plate in a theme designed by the secretary and for which the secretary has issued a plate.

          F. For a fee of ten dollars ($10.00), in addition to the fee charged pursuant to Subsection E of this section, the owner of a vehicle may apply for the issuance of a heritage registration plate with personalized letters, numbers, characters or spaces, subject to the approval of the secretary.

          G. The secretary may provide for the issuance of souvenir heritage registration plates for the same fees charged for standard heritage registration plates, except no additional fee shall be charged for personalization.

          H. Except as provided in Subsection I of this section, revenue from the additional fees for a heritage registration plate is appropriated to the department.

          I. Revenue received from a heritage registration plate with the route 66 theme is appropriated to the department of transportation for the purpose of funding the revitalization and preservation of historic route 66 in New Mexico pursuant to the national scenic byways program.

          J. The secretary may conform a previously authorized special registration plate to be consistent with the manner in which plates are issued pursuant to this section, if the secretary finds that conforming that plate will result in increased efficiency, cost savings or branding benefits.

          K. The secretary shall consult with other states to determine the most efficient, inexpensive and cost-effective method to implement this section, with the goal of making the plates affordable to all residents and with proceeds to benefit the department and not private organizations.

          L. The department may promulgate rules for implementation of the provisions of this section."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2015.

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