NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 4/6/2012.
      
      
      SENATE BILL 12-007
      
      
      BY SENATOR(S) Hudak and Spence, Williams S., Foster;
      also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Hamner, Barker, Kerr J., Solano, Todd, Tyler,
      Vaad, Wilson, Young.
      
      
      Concerning the standardization of the procedural requirements
           for the issuance of special license plates.
       
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-3-207, amend (3);
      repeal (2); and add (5), (6), and (7) as follows:
      
           42-3-207.  Special plates - rules - new plates - retirement.
      (2)  Before a bill is introduced in the general assembly that contains, or any
      bill is amended to contain, a provision that establishes a new category or
      type of group special license plate, the person, group, or association
      proposing the special license plate shall submit to the department a proposal
      for a group special license plate and certify that at least three thousand of
      such special plates are to be issued within one year after the authorization
      of such plates. The department shall verify that any proposed group special
      license plates meet the three-thousand-plate requirement.
      
           (3)  A group special license plate shall not be issued The
      department shall not issue an approval notification letter to any
      business entity conducted for profit.
      
           (5)  Before seeking legislative action to authorize a new
      group special license plate, the nonprofit organization requesting
      the new plate shall obtain, from the director of the department
      of revenue, written notification that the group has complied with
      the requirements for a group special license plate.
      
           (6)  The department shall verify that the nonprofit
      organization proposing a group special license plate has collected
      the signatures of at least three thousand persons committed to
      purchasing the proposed license plate.
      
           (7)  The remaining inventory of any group special license
      plate or alumni association license plate that has not been issued
      to the minimum number of vehicles specified in law may continue to
      be issued until the inventory of the plates is exhausted.
      
           SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-3-208, repeal (1)
      (a) and (1) (d) as follows:
      
           42-3-208.  Special plates - qualifications for issuance of special
      license plates. (1)  The following special license plates created by rule by
      the department under section 42-3-207, as such section existed when the
      plates were created, shall be subject to the requirement so specified:
      
           (a)  The department or an authorized agent shall not issue a Denver
      firefighters' special license plate to an applicant until such applicant has
      provided to the department or an authorized agent sufficient evidence to
      demonstrate that the applicant is an active or retired Denver firefighter.
      
           (d)  The department or an authorized agent shall not issue an Elks
      special license plate to an applicant until such applicant has provided to the
      department or an authorized agent sufficient evidence to demonstrate that
      the applicant is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
      
           SECTION 3.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-3-223, amend (2)
      as follows:
      
           42-3-223.  Special plates - support the troops - retirement.
      (2)  There is hereby established the United States support the troops special
      license plate. The plate shall be the design that was submitted to the
      department during the proposal and certification process under section
      42-3-207 (2); except that The plate shall conform with standards established
      by the department, and the plate shall feature the statement "Support The
      Troops".
      
           SECTION 4.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-3-231, amend (2)
      as follows:
      
           42-3-231.  Special plates - Colorado ski country. (2)  Colorado ski
      country USA, inc., may design the special license plates. The design that
      was submitted to the department during the proposal and certification
      process under section 42-3-207 (2) shall be used for the special license
      plate; except that The plate shall conform with standards established by the
      department and be subject to approval by the department. The plate shall
      feature the tagline "Ski Country USA".
      
           SECTION 5.  Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,
      determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
      preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Brandon C. Shaffer                      Frank McNulty
      PRESIDENT OF                     SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Cindi L. Markwell                      Marilyn Eddins
      SECRETARY OF                 CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
      THE SENATE                         OF REPRESENTATIVES
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO