SENATE BILL 648

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Vernon D. Asbill

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; PROVIDING FOR ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO REGISTER OR RENEW THE REGISTRATION OF SCHOOL BUSES; SETTING FEES.

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] SCHOOL BUS REGISTRATION--RENEWAL.--

          A. A school district, another public entity or a school bus contractor may register a school bus that it owns on a permanent basis, without the requirement of renewal, at the time the school bus is initially registered with the department and issued a certificate of title or subsequent to initial registration at the next registration renewal date. The registrant shall pay the registration fee provided in Section 66-6-12 NMSA 1978. To implement this subsection, the department shall:

                (1) promulgate a rule setting out the information and procedures the department may require to permanently register a school bus; and

                (2) create a permanent registration validation sticker and permanent registration certificate for school buses registered pursuant to this subsection.

          B. If a school district, another public entity or a school bus contractor does not register a school bus that it owns as provided in Subsection A of this section, it may renew the registration of two or more school buses it owns on a common date of its choosing on an annual basis, with the registration of those buses expiring and requiring renewal on that date. The fee for the registration of school buses is provided in Section 66-6-12 NMSA 1978. To implement this subsection the department shall:

                (1) promulgate a rule setting out the information and procedures the department may require to achieve the registration renewal of two or more school buses on a common date; and

                (2) prorate the fee for registration of school buses as necessary to achieve the common registration renewal date.

          C. Nothing in this section shall prevent a school district or a school bus contractor from registering a school bus that it owns pursuant to another applicable provision of law."

     Section 2. Section 66-6-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 347, as amended) is amended to read:

     "66-6-12. FEES FOR SCHOOL BUSES.--

          A. Registration fees for school buses used solely for the purpose of transportation of school children and other school activities shall be seven dollars ($7.00) a year, except that the fee for a school bus permanently registered pursuant to Subsection A of Section 1 of this 2007 act is:

                (1) for a school bus initially registered at the time an original certificate of title is issued for that school bus, a one-time fee of one hundred forty dollars ($140); or

                (2) for a school bus permanently registered subsequent to the issuance of the original certificate of title for that school bus, a one-time fee of one hundred dollars ($100).

          B. The application for registration of a school bus shall be accompanied by the certificate of the director of transportation of the public education department stating that the [vehicle] bus is used solely and exclusively as a school bus. [A passenger car shall not be considered a school bus for the purposes of this section.]"

     Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2007.

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