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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Taylor, J.G.

 

DATE TYPED:

02/07/02

 

HB

381

 

SHORT TITLE:

Emergency Medical Technicians License Plates

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Hayes

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

NFI

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

REVENUE

 

Estimated Revenue**

Subsequent

Years Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

 

$30.0

$30.0

Recurring

MVD

 

$29.9

$29.9

Recurring

State Road Fund

 

$15.1

$15.1

Recurring

Local governments

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Taxation and Revenue Department (TRD)

Injury Prevention and EMS Bureau, DOH

LFC files

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 381 adds a new section to Chapter 66, Article 3 NMSA 1978 by directing the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) to establish and issue special New Mexico Emergency Technician vehicle license plates.  Those purchasing such license plates are required to pay a fee of $25 in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fees.


 

     Significant Issues

 

Other provisions of this bill include:

 

  1. Of the $25 fee, $10 is to be retained by MVD to cover costs of manufacturing and issuing the license plates.  The remaining $15 would be deposited with the State Treasurer for credit to the Motor Vehicle Suspense Fund for distribution in accordance with Section 66-6-23 NMSA 1978.

 

  1. Subsection B allows the Secretary of Taxation and Revenue Department to determine what constitutes satisfactory proof or documentation that a person is, in fact, a New Mexico emergency medical technician (EMT).

 

  1. A person who misrepresents himself as an EMT and violates Subsection B is guilty of a petty misdemeanor and will be sentenced pursuant to Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978, “Sentencing Authority for Misdemeanors.”

 

  1. When a person holding this specialty plate ceases to be employed as a New Mexico emergency medical technician, he must remove the license plate from the vehicle, return it to TRD and exchange it for a regular license plate.   

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are approximately 6,000 licensed emergency medical technicians in New Mexico.  Assuming that the number of plates sold would be 3,000, then total revenue would be $75,000; from this amount, $30,000 would be directed to MVD for the plates’ production (see Revenue table above).

 

**TRD estimated that revenue from the fees collected for these license plates would be minimal because they assumed only 500 people would request the plates.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

To implement this legislation, the Motor Vehicle Division would be required to create new forms. The Taxation and Revenue Department's Information System Bureau would need to create a new code and financial program for the new plate code.  Artwork for the plates would need to be designed and approved.  Special sheeting would have to be ordered from a contractor at a cost of $2.50 to $3.00 per plate (depending on total number of colors used), plus shipping would have to be paid from the $10.00 fee.  Total cost depends on the demand for the plates.  Plates are ordered at a minimum of 1,700 because this is the number of plates that can be made from one roll of sheeting.  A minimum order would cost the state anywhere from $4,250 to $5,100.  However, given the number of EMTs in New Mexico, the demand should outweigh the cost.

 

RELATIONSHIP

 

Other specialty “prestige” plates have been proposed during the 2002 Session:

 

SB409, Mail Carrier license plates

HB236, Agricultural Products license plates

HB14, Wildlife Registration license plates

HB425, New Mexico High School Rodeo Association license plates

 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

 

Ø     Legislation regarding specialty plates typically indicates who will be responsible for designing or assisting in the design of specialty license plates.  It is usually the interested party/  organization who is designated for the design process.  It is suggested that such a designation is made in this bill; otherwise, MVD staff would necessarily be responsible for its design.

 

Ø     While specifying penalties for misrepresentation, the bill does not specify or impose a penalty for not returning the license plate to the department when the individual ceases to be employed as a New Mexico emergency medical technician.  How will this be enforced?

 

Ø     It is suggested that when referring to EMTs, the provisions specify and insert the word “licensed” e.g., a “New Mexico licensed emergency medical technician…” on lines 23 and 24 of page 1, plus on page 2, lines 8, 13, 21, and 24.

 

Ø     In Subsection H, it is suggested that the term “employed” be changed so that the sentence reads:  “When a person holding a special registration plate ceases to be a licensed New Mexico emergency medical technician,…”   There are EMTs who are employed in other fields and other careers, but still maintain their EMT license.  They should be allowed to purchase an EMT license plate even though they work elsewhere.

 

 

CMH/njw

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