To repeal sections 301.160, 301.290 and 301.300, RSMo 1994, section 301.032, RSMo Supp. 1995, section 301.130, as truly agreed to and finally passed in house committee substitute for senate substitute for senate bill no. 3 and as truly agreed to and finally passed in senate bill no. 156, as that section appears in RSMo Supp. 1995, and section 301.130 as truly agreed to and finally passed in conference committee substitute for house substitute for house committee substitute for senate substitute for senate bill no. 70, as that section appears in RSMo Supp. 1995, relating to motor vehicle license plates, and to enact five new sections in lieu thereof relating to the same subject, with an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI,

AS FOLLOWS:

Section A. Sections 301.160, 301.290 and 301.300, RSMo 1994, section 301.032, RSMo Supp. 1995, section 301.130, as truly agreed to and finally passed in house committee substitute for senate substitute for senate bill no. 3 and as truly agreed to and finally passed in senate bill no. 156, as that section appears in RSMo Supp. 1995, and section 301.130 as truly agreed to and finally passed in conference committee substitute for house substitute for house committee substitute for senate substitute for senate bill no. 70, as that section appears in RSMo Supp. 1995, are repealed and five new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 301.032, 301.130, 301.160, 301.290 and 301.300, to read as follows:

301.032. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 301.030 and 301.035 to the contrary, the director of revenue shall establish a system of registration on a calendar year basis of all fleet vehicles owned or purchased by a fleet owner registered pursuant to this section. The director of revenue shall prescribe the forms for such fleet registration and the forms and procedures for the registration updates prescribed in this section. Any owner of ten or more motor vehicles which must be registered in accordance with this chapter may register as a fleet owner. All registered fleet owners may, at their option, register all motor vehicles included in the fleet on a calendar year basis pursuant to this section in lieu of the registration periods provided in sections 301.030 and 301.035. The director shall issue an identification number to each registered owner of fleet vehicles.

2. All fleet vehicles included in the fleet of a registered fleet owner shall be registered during April each year or on a prorated basis as provided in subsection 3 of this section. Fees of all vehicles in the fleet to be registered on a calendar year basis shall be payable not later than the last day of April of each year. The fees for vehicles added to the fleet which must be licensed at the time of registration shall be payable at the time of registration, except that when such vehicle is licensed between July first and September thirtieth the fee shall be three- fourths the annual fee, when licensed between October first and December thirty-first the fee shall be one-half the annual fee and when licensed on or after January first the fee shall be one-fourth the annual fee.

3. At any time during the calendar year in which an owner of a fleet purchases or otherwise acquires a vehicle which is to be added to the fleet or transfers plates to a fleet vehicle, the owner shall present to the director of revenue the identification number as a fleet number and may register the vehicle for the partial year as provided in subsection 2 of this section. The fleet owner shall also be charged a transfer fee of two dollars for each vehicle so transferred pursuant to this subsection.

4. All fleet vehicles registered pursuant to this section shall be issued a special license plate which shall have the words "Fleet Vehicle" in place of the words "Show-Me State" in the manner prescribed by the advisory committee established in section 301.129. Such license plates shall be made with fully reflective material with a common color scheme and design, shall be clearly visible at night, and shall be aesthetically attractive, as prescribed by section 301.130. Fleet vehicles shall be issued multiyear license plates as provided in this section which shall not require issuance of a [renewal tab] validation sticker. Upon payment of appropriate registration fees, the director of revenue shall issue a registration certificate or other suitable evidence of payment of the annual fee, and such evidence of payment shall be carried at all times in the vehicle for which it is issued. The director of revenue shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing the procedure for application and issuance of fleet vehicle license plates.

5. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 307.350 to 307.390, RSMo, to the contrary, a fleet vehicle registered in Missouri is exempt from the requirements of sections 307.350 to 307.390, RSMo, if at the time of the annual fleet registration, such fleet vehicle is situated outside the state of Missouri.

[301.130. 1. The director of revenue, upon receipt of a proper application for registration, required fees and any other information which may be required by law, shall issue to the applicant a certificate of registration in such manner and form as the director of revenue may prescribe and a set of license plates, or other evidence of registration, as provided herein. Each set of license plates shall bear the name or abbreviated name of this state, the words "Show-me State", the month and year in which the registration shall expire, and an arrangement of numbers or letters, or both, as shall be assigned from year to year by the director of revenue. Special plates for qualified disabled veterans will have the "DISABLED VETERAN" wording on the license plates in preference to the words "Show-me State" and special plates for members of the national guard will have the "NATIONAL GUARD" wording in preference to the words "Show-me State".

2. The arrangement of letters and numbers of license plates shall be uniform throughout each classification of registration.

3. The background of all license plates, or the letters and numerals thereof, shall be coated with a material which will reflect the lights of other vehicles. The nature and specifications of this material shall be determined after a public hearing by the director of revenue, director of prison industries, and superintendent of the state highway patrol, and shall meet the standards established by the state highways and transportation department.

4. Figures on license plates, except those which may be used to designate gross weights for which commercial motor vehicles are registered, shall not be less than three inches in height and the strokes thereof not less than five-sixteenths of an inch in width. In the case of motorcycles and motortricycles, the letters and figures shall be not less than one inch in height and the strokes thereof one-eighth of an inch in width. The director may provide for the arrangement of the numbers in groups or otherwise, and for other distinguishing marks on the plates.

5. All property-carrying commercial motor vehicles to be registered at a gross weight in excess of twelve thousand pounds, all passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles, local transit buses, school buses, trailers, semitrailers, motorcycles, motortricycles, motorscooters and driveaway vehicles shall be registered with the director of revenue as provided for in subsection 3 of section 301.030, but only one license plate shall be issued for each such vehicle.

6. The plates issued to manufacturers and dealers shall bear the letter "D" preceding the number, and the director may place upon the plates other letters or marks to distinguish commercial motor vehicles and trailers and other types of motor vehicles.

7. No motor vehicle or trailer shall be operated on any highway of this state unless it shall have displayed thereon the license plate or set of license plates issued by the director of revenue and authorized by section 301.140. Each such plate shall be securely fastened to the motor vehicle in a manner so that all parts thereof shall be plainly visible and reasonably clean so that the reflective qualities thereof are not impaired. License plates shall be fastened to all motor vehicles except trucks, tractors, truck tractors or truck-tractors licensed in excess of twelve thousand pounds on the front and rear of such vehicles not less than eight nor more than forty-eight inches above the ground, with the letters and numbers thereon right side up. The license plates on trailers, motorcycles, motortricycles and motorscooters shall be displayed on the rear of such vehicles, with the letters and numbers thereon right side up. The license plate on trucks, tractors, truck tractors or truck-tractors licensed in excess of twelve thousand pounds shall be displayed on the front of such vehicles not less than eight nor more than forty-eight inches above the ground, with the letters and numbers thereon right side up. The license plate or plates authorized by section 301.140, when properly attached, shall be prima facie evidence that the required fees have been paid.

8. (1) The director of revenue shall issue annually a tab or set of tabs as evidence of the annual payment of registration fees and the current registration of a vehicle in lieu of the set of plates; except that the director shall annually issue a new license plate or set of plates as provided in this section for vehicles registered pursuant to subsection 2 of section 301.277, commercial motor vehicles in excess of twelve thousand pounds, trailers, buses and dealers.

(2) The vehicle owner to whom a tab or set of tabs is issued shall affix and display such tab or tabs on the middle of the license plate, no more than one per plate.

(3) A tab or set of tabs issued by the director when attached to a vehicle in the prescribed manner shall be prima facie evidence that the registration fee for such vehicle has been paid.

(4) Except as provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection, the director of revenue shall issue plates for a period of at least five years.

(5) For those commercial motor vehicles registered pursuant to an agreement under section 301.277, the plate issued by the director of revenue shall be a permanent nonexpiring license plate for which no tabs shall be issued. Nothing in this section shall relieve the owner of any vehicle permanently registered under this section from the obligation to pay the annual registration fee due for the vehicle. The permanent nonexpiring license plate shall be returned to the director of revenue upon the sale or disposal of the vehicle by the owner to whom the permanent nonexpiring license plate is issued, or the plate may be transferred to a replacement commercial motor vehicle when the owner files a supplemental application with the Missouri highway reciprocity commission for the registration of such replacement commercial motor vehicle. Upon payment of the annual registration fee, the director of revenue shall issue a certificate of registration or other suitable evidence of payment of the annual fee, and such evidence of payment shall be carried at all times in the vehicle for which it is issued.

(6) Upon the sale or disposal of any vehicle permanently registered under this section, or upon the termination of a lease of any such vehicle, the permanent nonexpiring plate issued for such vehicle shall be returned to the director and shall not be valid for operation of such vehicle, or the plate may be transferred to a replacement vehicle when the owner files a supplemental application with the Missouri highway reciprocity commission for the registration of such replacement vehicle. If a vehicle which is permanently registered under this section is sold, wrecked or otherwise disposed of, or the lease terminated, the registrant shall be given credit for any unused portion of the annual registration fee when the vehicle is replaced by the purchase or lease of another vehicle during the registration year.

9. The director of revenue may prescribe rules and regulations for the effective administration of this section. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated under the authority of this section shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to the provisions of section 536.024, RSMo.]

301.130. 1. The director of revenue, upon receipt of a proper application for registration, required fees and any other information which may be required by law, shall issue to the applicant a certificate of registration in such manner and form as the director of revenue may prescribe and a set of license plates, or other evidence of registration, as provided in this section. Unless otherwise provided by law, each license plate or set of license plates issued, renewed or replaced on or after January 1, 1997, shall contain the following:

(1) The name or abbreviated name of this state;

(2) The words "Show-me State";

(3) The month and year in which the registration shall expire;

(4) An arrangement of numbers or letters, or both, as shall be assigned from year to year by the director of revenue; and

(5) Fully reflective material with a common color scheme and design for each type of license plate issued under this chapter, which shall be designated by an advisory committee established in section 301.129. The license plates shall be clearly visible at night, and shall be aesthetically attractive. Except as otherwise provided in this section, in addition to all other fees required by law, applicants for registration of vehicles with license plates that expire between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 1997, applicants for registration of trailers or semitrailers with license plates that expire between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 1999, and applicants for registration of vehicles that are to be issued new license plates shall pay an additional fee of up to two dollars and twenty- five cents, based on the actual cost of the reissuance, to cover the cost of the fully reflective plates required by this subsection. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 3 of section 301.067 to the contrary, every license plate for a trailer or semitrailer which is permanently registered under subsection 3 of section 301.067 shall be returned to the director of revenue between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 1997, and a license plate which conforms to the provisions of this subsection issued as a replacement plate upon the payment of a one dollar and fifteen cent fee per plate prescribed by this subdivision. The additional fee, based on the actual cost, prescribed by this subdivision shall only be one dollar and fifteen cents for issuance of one new plate for vehicles requiring only one license plate pursuant to subsection 5 or 7 of this section. The additional fee of two dollars and twenty-five cents prescribed in this subsection shall not be charged to persons receiving special license plates issued under section 301.073 or 301.443. The department of revenue shall adopt a program whereby all motor vehicle registrations renewed on or after January 1, 1997, will have replacement reflective plates issued for such registration prior to January 1, 2000. Special plates for qualified disabled veterans will have the "DISABLED VETERAN" wording on the license plates in preference to the words "Show-me State" and special plates for members of the national guard will have the "NATIONAL GUARD" wording in preference to the words "Show-me State". Veterans plates shall have a white background with a blue and red configuration at the discretion of the advisory committee established in section 301.129.

2. The arrangement of letters and numbers of license plates shall be uniform throughout each classification of registration.

3. The competitive bidding process used to select a vendor for the material to manufacture the license plates shall consider the aesthetic appearance of the plates and the reflective illumination capability for safety reasons. The advisory committee established in section 301.129 shall adopt specifications for all reflective material. The competitive bidding request for proposal shall contain a deduction in the amount of twenty-eight cents per plate from the cost of the reflective sheeting. The committee may select graphic designs or any of the plate processes approved on January 1, 1997.

4. Figures on license plates, except those which may be used to designate gross weights for which commercial motor vehicles are registered, shall be of a size set by the advisory committee established in section 301.129. In the case of motorcycles, motortricycles and trailers that are pulled by motorcycles or motortricycles, the letters and figures shall be of a size set by the advisory committee. The advisory committee may provide for the arrangement of the numbers in groups or otherwise, and for other distinguishing marks on the plates.

5. All property-carrying commercial motor vehicles to be registered at a gross weight in excess of twelve thousand pounds, all passenger- carrying commercial motor vehicles, local transit buses, school buses, trailers, semitrailers, motorcycles, motortricycles, motorscooters and driveaway vehicles shall be registered with the director of revenue as provided for in subsection 3 of section 301.030, but only one license plate shall be issued for each such vehicle, except as provided in this subsection. The applicant for registration of any property-carrying commercial motor vehicle to be registered at a gross weight in excess of twelve thousand pounds or passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle may request and be issued two license plates for such vehicle, and if such plates are issued, the director of revenue may assess and collect an additional charge from the applicant in an amount not to exceed the fee prescribed for personalized license plates in subsection 1 of section 301.144.

6. The plates issued to manufacturers and dealers shall bear the letter "D" preceding the number, and the advisory committee may require the placement upon the plates other letters or marks to distinguish commercial motor vehicles and trailers and other types of motor vehicles.

7. No motor vehicle or trailer shall be operated on any highway of this state unless it shall have displayed thereon the license plate or set of license plates issued by the director of revenue and authorized by section 301.140. Each such plate shall be securely fastened to the motor vehicle in a manner so that all parts thereof shall be plainly visible and reasonably clean so that the reflective qualities thereof are not impaired. License plates shall be fastened to all motor vehicles except trucks, tractors, truck tractors or truck-tractors licensed in excess of twelve thousand pounds on the front and rear of such vehicles not less than eight nor more than forty-eight inches above the ground, with the letters and numbers thereon right side up. The license plates on trailers, motorcycles, motortricycles and motorscooters shall be displayed on the rear of such vehicles, with the letters and numbers thereon right side up. The license plate on buses, other than school buses, and on trucks, tractors, truck tractors or truck-tractors licensed in excess of twelve thousand pounds shall be displayed on the front of such vehicles not less than eight nor more than forty-eight inches above the ground, with the letters and numbers thereon right side up, or if two plates are issued for the vehicle pursuant to subsection 5 of this section, displayed in the same manner on the front and rear of such vehicles. The license plate or plates authorized by section 301.140, when properly attached, shall be prima facie evidence that the required fees have been paid.

8. (1) The director of revenue shall issue annually a [tab or set of tabs] validation sticker as evidence of the annual payment of registration fees and the current registration of a vehicle in lieu of the set of plates.

(2) The vehicle owner to whom a [tab or set of tabs] validation sticker is issued shall affix and display such [tab or tabs in the designated area of the license plate, no more than one per plate] sticker on the inside of the driver's side of the front windshield.

(3) A [tab or set of tabs] validation sticker issued by the director when attached to a vehicle in the prescribed manner shall be prima facie evidence that the registration fee for such vehicle has been paid.

(4) Except as provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection, the director of revenue shall issue plates for a period of at least five years.

(5) For those commercial motor vehicles registered pursuant to an agreement under section 301.277, the plate issued by the director of revenue shall be a permanent nonexpiring license plate for which no [tabs] validation stickers shall be issued. Nothing in this section shall relieve the owner of any vehicle permanently registered under this section from the obligation to pay the annual registration fee due for the vehicle. The permanent nonexpiring license plate shall be returned to the director of revenue upon the sale or disposal of the vehicle by the owner to whom the permanent nonexpiring license plate is issued, or the plate may be transferred to a replacement commercial motor vehicle when the owner files a supplemental application with the Missouri highway reciprocity commission for the registration of such replacement commercial motor vehicle. Upon payment of the annual registration fee, the director of revenue shall issue a certificate of registration or other suitable evidence of payment of the annual fee, and such evidence of payment shall be carried at all times in the vehicle for which it is issued.

(6) Upon the sale or disposal of any vehicle permanently registered under this section, or upon the termination of a lease of any such vehicle, the permanent nonexpiring plate issued for such vehicle shall be returned to the director and shall not be valid for operation of such vehicle, or the plate may be transferred to a replacement vehicle when the owner files a supplemental application with the Missouri highway reciprocity commission for the registration of such replacement vehicle. If a vehicle which is permanently registered under this section is sold, wrecked or otherwise disposed of, or the lease terminated, the registrant shall be given credit for any unused portion of the annual registration fee when the vehicle is replaced by the purchase or lease of another vehicle during the registration year.

9. The director of revenue may prescribe rules and regulations for the effective administration of this section. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated under the authority of this section shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to section 536.024, RSMo.

[10. Any rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to this section may be suspended by the joint committee on administrative rules if after hearing thereon the committee finds that such rule or portion of the rule is beyond or contrary to the statutory authority of the agency which promulgated the rule, or is inconsistent with the legislative intent of the authorizing statute. The general assembly may reinstate such rule by concurrent resolution signed by the governor.]

301.160. Upon approval of the application for registration of a motor vehicle or trailer and when the required fee has been paid to the department of revenue, the department shall forward or deliver to the applicant the registration receipt and the number of license plates prescribed for the vehicle or trailer by section 301.130, or [renewal tabs] validation stickers if appropriate. The attachment to the motor vehicle or trailer specified in the application of current license plates and a current validation sticker, if appropriate, shall be prima facie evidence that the fees have been paid for such license.

301.290. 1. Correctional enterprises of the department of corrections shall purchase, erect and maintain all of the machinery and equipment necessary for the manufacture of the license plates and [tabs] validation stickers issued by the director of revenue, and of signs used by the state highways and transportation department.

2. The director of revenue shall procure all plates and [tabs] validation stickers issued by him, and the state highways and transportation department shall procure all signs used by it from correctional enterprises, unless an emergency arises and correctional enterprises cannot furnish the plates, [tabs] validation stickers or signs.

3. Correctional enterprises shall furnish the plates, [tabs] validation stickers and signs at such a price as will not exceed the price at which such plates, [tabs] validation stickers and signs may be obtained upon the open market, but in no event shall such price be less than the cost of manufacture, including labor and materials.

4. All moneys derived from the sale of the plates, [tabs] validation stickers and signs shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the working capital revolving fund as provided in section 217.595, RSMo.

301.300. 1. In event of the loss, theft, mutilation or destruction of any certificate of ownership, number plate[, tab or set of tabs] or validation sticker issued by the director of revenue, the lawful holder thereof shall, within five days, file with the director of revenue, an affidavit showing such fact, and shall, on the payment of a fee of eight dollars and fifty cents, obtain a duplicate or replacement of such plate, certificate[, tab or set of tabs] or validation sticker. Any duplicate certificate issued for any "motor vehicle primarily for business use", as defined in section 301.010, shall be issued only to the owner of record.

2. Upon filing affidavit of lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed certificate of registration, the director of revenue shall issue to the lawful owner a duplicate or replacement thereof upon payment of a fee of eight dollars and fifty cents.

3. Vehicle owners who elect not to transfer or renew multiyear plates shall be charged a fee equal to that charged for a lost plate in addition to the registration fee prescribed by law at the time the new plate or plates are issued.

Section B. This act shall become effective January 1, 1997.