Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.

 

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are available on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).  Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not.  Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

 

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR

Anderson

DATE TYPED

2-04-04

HB

476

 

SHORT TITLE

Combat Veterans License Plates

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST

Reynolds-Forte

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

 

 

 

 

 

See Narrative

 

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

 

Relates to House Bill 28, House Bill 151, House Bill 152

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 476 adds a new section to the Motor Vehicle Code to allow theTaxation and Revenue Department to issue a special registration plate with a standard logo as required by Section 66-3-424 for bona fide combat veterans.

 

House Bill 476 provides that no fee shall be charged for this plate if the bona fide combat veteran is also eligible for the following special registration plates and chooses to have this new combat veteran plate in lieu of one of these plates:

 

  1. Section 66-3-406--private vehicle plates for state officials, legislators, and legislative sgt at arms, disabled persons.
  2. Section 66-3-409—plates for medal of honor recipients
  3. Section 66-3-411—plates for POWs and spouses
  4. Section 66-3-412.1—plates for 100% disabled veterans
  5. Section 66-3-414—plates for recipients of purple heart
  6. 66-3-415—plates for Pearl Harbor survivors
  7. 66-3-419—plates for armed forces veterans

 

Significant Issues

 

Section 66-3-424.A NMSA 1978 states that “The authorizing statute shall provide for collection of fees that, at a minimum, will cover the costs to the division of development, manufacture and issuanance of the special registration plates and logos.”  House Bill 476 does not provide collection of fees to cover the costs of the new special plate.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There is a cost to the Motor Vehicle Division for issuance of a new special plate.  The cost is dependent upon the number of plates made and would cost approximately$8 per plate for 100 plates to approximately $3.50 per plate for 500 plates.

 

RELATIONSHIP

 

House Bill 476 relates to HB 28-Special Plates for NM Scenic Byways, HB 151-License Plates for Boy Scouts of America and HB 152-Lecense Plates for Girl Scouts of America.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

1. What is a bona fide combat veteran and how will Motor Vehicle Division know a person qualifies for this plate?

 

2. Could a person qualify as a bona fide combat veteran and not qualify for the other plates as mentioned in the bill(items 1-7 above) and, if so, would that person need to pay?  If a person would need to pay for the plate, how much would they pay?

 

PRF/lg