SCS/SBs 343, 89, 134, 171, 240, 261, 331, 368, 369, 419, 484 & 581 - This act enacts various provisions relating to motor vehicle license plates.

DISABLED LICENSE PLATES (SB 343) - This act revises the procedures relating to disabled license plates and placards and the use of designated disabled parking spaces.

Under this act, fraudulent procurement or use of a disabled license plate is a Class A misdemeanor. Under current law, it is a Class C misdemeanor. Physicians or health care practitioners will be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if they issue, sign, or furnish a physician's statement or certificate to enable a person to obtain disabled license plates or windshield placards for any person who does not meet established conditions required by law or if there is no basis for a diagnosis, or state a condition or diagnosis which is outside the scope of the provider's license. Under current law it is a Class C misdemeanor for a health care practitioner to certify an individual for a disabled plate or placard if the diagnosis is outside the practitioner's scope (section 301.141).

This act allows other health care practitioners (chiropractors, podiatrists, and optometrists) to certify individuals for disabled license plates and placards (section 301.142).

Under this act, age, in and of itself, shall not be a factor in determining whether a person is entitled to a disabled license plate. The act establishes record maintenance requirements for physicians and health care practitioners who issue physician's statements.

Under this act, a physician's statement shall:

1. Be on a form prescribed by the Director of Revenue;

2. Set forth the specific diagnosis which renders the person physically disabled;

3. Include the physician's license number; and

4. Be signed by the physician or health care practitioner.

This act requires the physician who issues a statement for a disabled license plate to maintain certain medical records and documentation relating to the issuance of such statement. These records shall be open to inspection and review by the physician's licensing board to verify compliance with the act.

No more than two removable windshield handicap placards may be issued by the Director of the Department of Revenue to any one person. The fee for removable windshield handicap placards is increased from $2 to $4 and must be renewed every two years (not every year).

The Director will be required to periodically check with the appropriate licensing boards to verify that physicians or other health care practitioners who sign physician's statements are duly licensed and registered. The Director must annually take steps to check with vital statistics to see if any person issued disabled plates or placards is deceased.

The Director also will be required to issue a registration certificate identifying the name, address, and other identifying information as prescribed by the Director. The Director shall furnish the applicant with a notice which sets forth that plates or placards are non-transferable, what the restrictions of use are, and the penalties for violating this act.

Beginning July 1, 2004, every applicant for a disabled license plate or placard or for a renewal of such items shall be required to present a new physician's statement dated no more than 90 days prior to such application. Thereafter, the Director shall not renew pre-existing disabled plates unless the applicant furnishes the Director with a new physician's statement every four years.

Under this act, a person who cannot produce the certificate which authorizes him or her to park in a disabled parking space shall be guilty of an Class A misdemeanor. If a person can later produce a valid certificate in court, the person shall not be found guilty. Under this act, a placard shall only be used when the vehicle is parked in a disabled parking space.

ANTITERRORISM LICENSE PLATES (SB 4) - This act creates the "Antiterrorism Fund" within the state treasury. Contributions from the sale of "Fight Terrorism" license plates, and other moneys shall be deposited in this fund to fund antiterrorism activities. This act allows motorists to obtain "Fight Terrorism" license plates. Any person desiring to obtain such plates must make an annual contribution of $25 to the "Antiterrorism Fund".

AMATEUR RADIO PLATES (SB 89) - This act requires that amateur radio license plates contain the words "AMATEUR RADIO" in place of the words "SHOW-ME-STATE". Previous plate owners making a new application and paying a new fee to retain an amateur radio plate may request a replacement plate with the words "AMATEUR RADIO" in place of the words "SHOW-ME-STATE". This act is substantially similar to HB 684 (2001).

PEACE OFFICER PLATES (SB 134) - This act allows peace officers wounded in the line of duty, or surviving spouses, parents, brothers, sisters or children of a peace officer killed in the line of duty, to receive special license plates. The applicant shall pay $15 in addition to regular registration fees. The plate shall bear the insignia depicting a yellow rose superimposed over the outline of a badge and shall bear the words "TO PROTECT AND SERVE".

FIREFIGHTER PLATES (SB 171) - This act allows firefighters wounded in the line of duty, or surviving spouses, parents, brothers, sisters or children of a firefighter killed in the line of duty, to receive special license plates. The applicant shall pay $15 in addition to regular registration fees. The plate shall bear the words "FIREFIGHERS MEMORIAL".

U.S. VETERAN LICENSE PLATES (SB 240) - This act allows honorably discharged veterans to obtain "U.S. VET" motor vehicle license plates. To obtain these plates, the individual will pay $15 in addition to regular registration fees. This act also removes the requirement from the U.S. VET motorcycle plate provision that the person must have served during a period of war.

FOXTROTTING LICENSE PLATE (SB 261) - This act allows members of the Missouri Foxtrotting Horse Breed Association to obtain specialized license plates. After making a $25 contribution to the association, the member may obtain the specialized license plate by paying $15 in addition to regular registration fees. The act allows members of the Missouri Foxtrotting Horse Breed Association to personalize the specialized license plates without a fee. The plate shall bear the words "FOXTROTTER - STATE HORSE". This part of the act is identical to HB 170 (2003).

SILVER STAR PLATES (SB 331) - This act allows any qualified applicant for the "SILVER STAR" license plate to obtain two sets of plates. Currently, only one set of plates is allowed. This act also provides that apportioned motor vehicles or commercial motor vehicles in excess of 18,000 pounds are not eligible for the special license plate. This part of the act is identical to HB 75 (2003).

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (SB 368) - This act allows members of the Missouri State Society Daughters of the American Revolution to obtain specialized license plates. To obtain the specialized plate, the member of the organization must pay a one- time emblem-use authorization contribution of $25 and $15 in addition to regular registration fees.

KIDS WITH CANCER LICENSE PLATES (SB 369) - This act allows persons to receive "Friends of Kids with Cancer" license plates after making an annual $25 contribution to the Friends of Kids with Cancer organization. In addition to the $25 contribution, the person must pay $15 plus regular registration fees. No additional fee shall be assessed for the personalization of such plates.

SPECIAL OLYMPIC LICENSE PLATES (SB 382) - This act creates the Special Olympics Missouri license plate. An individual may obtain such a plate after paying $25 to Special Olympics Missouri in addition to the $15 special license plate fee and other registration fees.

CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND LICENSE PLATES (SB 402) - This act modifies the law regarding Children's Trust Fund license plates. This act states that the plates cannot be issue for apportioned motor vehicles or commercial motor vehicles in excess of 18,000 pounds. This act allows the $25 contribution to be made at time the of registration. This act also requires the Director of Revenue to issue sample license plates to be displayed in revenue offices and that literature describing the Children's Trust Fund be distributed in such offices.

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS LICENSE PLATE (SB 403) - This act allows members of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers to receive special license plates. In order to obtain such a plate, the member must pay $25 for a emblem-use contribution to the organization and pay $15 in addition to regular registration fees.

ORGAN DONOR LICENSE PLATE (SB 419) - This act creates an organ donor license plate. In order to receive an organ donor license plate, the driver must first donate $25 to the Organ Donor Program Fund established under section 194.297. The driver must also pay $15 in addition to regular registration fees. The license plate will bear the words "BE AN ORGAN DONOR" in lieu of the words "SHOW-ME STATE". The plates will be designed by the director of revenue in consultation with the Organ Donation Advisory Committee.

ALPHA PHI OMEGA LICENSE PLATES (SB 484) - This act allows members or alumni of Alpha Phi Omega to obtain specialized license plates. A member may obtain such a plate by making an annual emblem-use contribution fee of $25 to the organization and by paying a fee of $15 in addition to regular registration fees.

FORMER LEGISLATORS - This act allows former members of the Missouri legislature to receive special license plates. This provision is similar to one contained in HB 1789 (2002).

STREET RODS AND CUSTOM VEHICLE REGISTRATION - This act establishes new registration procedures for street rods and custom vehicles. The act defines "street rod" and "custom vehicle". These vehicles will have a one-time registration fee of $25. Owners of these types of vehicles must certify at the time of registration that the vehicles will be maintained for occasional transportation, exhibits, club activities, parades, tours, and similar uses and will not be used for general daily transportation. These vehicles are exempt from vehicle inspections and emission tests. License plates for these categories of vehicles shall bear the words "STREET ROD" or "CUSTOM VEHICLE". A street rod or custom vehicle may use blue dot tail lights for stop lamps, rear turning indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps, and rear reflectors. A "blue dot tail light" is a red lamp installed in the rear of the motor vehicle which contains a blue or purple insert that is not more than one inch in diameter. These provisions are identical to SB 570 and HB 283(2003)(section 301.132).

This act provides language regarding the color scheme of license plates; reinstates languages which was inadvertently repealed in a prior session that allowed applicants registering property-carrying commercial motor vehicles to request an additional plate at a charge not to exceed $15; requires plate tabs to be displayed in the designated area rather the middle of the plate; and provides standardized language which prohibits apportioned motor vehicles and commercial motor vehicles in excess of 18,000 pounds from obtaining special license plates. This provision is identical to SB 581 (2003).
STEPHEN WITTE