To repeal section 136.055, RSMo 1994, and section 301.030, RSMo Supp. 1996, relating to the licensing of motor vehicles, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to the same subject.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:

     Section A. Section 136.055, RSMo 1994, and section 301.030, RSMo Supp. 1996, are repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as 136.055 and 301.030, to read as follows:

     136.055. 1. Any person who is selected or appointed by the state director of revenue to act as an agent of the department of revenue, whose duties shall be the sale of motor vehicle licenses and the collection of motor vehicle sales and use taxes under the provisions of section 144.440, RSMo, and who receives no salary from the department of revenue, shall be authorized to collect from the party requiring such services additional fees as compensation in full and for all services rendered on the following basis:

     (1) For each motor vehicle or trailer license sold, renewed or transferred--one dollar and fifty cents until January 1, 1998; two dollars from January 1, 1998 until January 1, 2000; and two dollars and fifty cents beginning January 1, 2000;

     (2) For each application or transfer of title--one dollar and fifty cents until January 1, 1998; two dollars from January 1, 1998 until January 1, 2000; and two dollars and fifty cents beginning January 1, 2000;

     (3) For each chauffeur's, operator's or driver's license--two dollars until January 1, 2000; and two dollars and fifty cents beginning January 1, 2000;

     (4) No notary fee or other fee or additional charge shall be paid or collected except for electronic telephone transmission reception--two dollars.

     2. [This section shall not apply to agents appointed by the state director of revenue in any city, other than a city not within a county, where the department of revenue maintains an office. All fees charged shall not exceed those in this section.] Beginning January 1, 1998 each office of the department of revenue which issues motor vehicle licenses, operators licenses or certificates of title shall collect the same fees as those authorized for agents under this section.

     3. Any person acting as agent of the department of revenue for the sale and issuance of licenses and other documents related to motor vehicles shall have an insurable interest in all license plates, licenses, tabs, forms and other documents held on behalf of the department.

     301.030. 1. The director shall provide for the retention of license plates by the owners of motor vehicles, other than commercial motor vehicles, and shall establish a system of registration on a monthly series basis to distribute the work of registering motor vehicles as uniformly as practicable throughout the twelve months of the calendar year. For the purpose of assigning license plate numbers, each type of motor vehicle shall be considered a separate class. Commencing July 1, 1949, motor vehicles, other than commercial motor vehicles, shall be registered for a period of twelve consecutive calendar months. There are established twelve registration periods, each of which shall start on the first day of each calendar month of the year and shall end on the last date of the twelfth month from the date of beginning.

     2. Motor vehicles, other than commercial motor vehicles, operated for the first time upon the public highways of this state, to and including the fifteenth day of any given month, shall be subject to registration and payment of a fee for the twelve-month period commencing the first day of the month of such operation; motor vehicles, other than commercial motor vehicles, operated for the first time on the public highways of this state after the fifteenth day of any given month shall be subject to registration and payment of a fee for the twelve-month period commencing the first day of the next following calendar month.

     3. All commercial motor vehicles and trailers, except those licensed under section 301.035 and those operated under agreements as provided for in sections 301.271 to 301.279, shall be registered either on a calendar year basis or on a prorated basis as provided in this section. The fees for commercial motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, and driveaway vehicles, other than those to be operated under agreements as provided for in sections 301.271 to 301.279 shall be payable not later than the last day of [December] February of each year, except when such vehicle is licensed between April first and July first the fee shall be three-fourths the annual fee, when licensed between July first and October first the fee shall be one-half the annual fee and when licensed on or after October first the fee shall be one-fourth the annual fee. 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. Local commercial motor vehicle license plates shall also be so stamped, marked or designed as to indicate they are to be used only on local commercial motor vehicles and, in addition to such stamp, mark or design the letter "F" shall also be displayed on local commercial motor vehicle license plates issued to motor vehicles used for farm or farming transportation operations as defined in section 301.010 in the manner prescribed by the advisory committee established in section 301.129. In addition, all commercial motor vehicle license plates shall be so stamped or marked with a letter, figure or other emblem as to indicate the gross weight for which issued.

     4. The director shall, upon application, issue registration and license plates for nine thousand pounds gross weight for property-carrying commercial motor vehicles referred to herein, upon payment of the fees prescribed for twelve thousand pounds gross weight as provided in section 301.057.