SENATE 3rd Reading Unamended May 7, 2012 SENATE Amended 2nd Reading May 4, 2012Second Regular Session Sixty-eighth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REENGROSSED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the House of Introduction LLS NO. 12-0875.01 Jery Payne x2157 SENATE BILL 12-171 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Shaffer B. and Brophy, HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Becker, Senate Committees House Committees Finance Transportation Appropriations Finance A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning the creation of the Colorado conservation and recreation fund, and, in connection therewith, creating the Colorado conservation license plate and making an appropriation. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) The bill creates the Colorado conservation and recreation fund and program and designates the program as an enterprise. The program is directed to build a conservation and recreation center at Bonny lake and to use any remaining moneys for similar programs. The program is given bonding authority. The program may enter into business relationships with nonprofit entities and exercise the powers necessary for an enterprise. The bill also creates the Colorado conservation license plate. A person becomes eligible to use the plate by donating $150 to the Colorado conservation and recreation fund. In addition to the normal motor vehicle fees, the plate requires 2 one-time fees of $25. One of the fees is credited to the highway users tax fund and the other to the licensing services cash fund. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 42-3-241 as follows: 42-3-241. License plates - Colorado conservation. (1) Beginning the earlier of January 1, 2013, or when the department is able to issue the plates, the department shall issue license plates to qualified applicants under this section for motorcycles, passenger cars, trucks, or noncommercial or recreational motor vehicles that do not exceed sixteen thousand pounds empty weight; except that the department shall not issue the plate until section 42-3-207 is complied with. (2) (a) There is hereby established the Colorado conservation license plate. The department may stop issuing the Colorado conservation license plate if a total of three thousand license plates are not issued by July 1, 2017. A person who was issued a Colorado conservation license plate on or before July 1, 2017, may continue to use the Colorado conservation license plate after July 1, 2017, regardless of whether the department stops issuing the Colorado conservation license plate. (b) The three rivers alliance may design the special license plate if the plate conforms with standards established by the department. (3) (a) A person may apply for a Colorado conservation license plate if the person pays the taxes and fees required under this section and provides to the department or an authorized agent a certificate issued by three rivers alliance, or its successor organization, confirming that the applicant has donated fifty dollars. (b) Three rivers alliance, or its successor organization, shall file with the department an annual statement verifying that it is a nonprofit organization. (4) The amount of the taxes and fees for special license plates under this section is the same as the amount of the taxes and fees for regular motor vehicle license plates. (5) An applicant may apply for personalized Colorado conservation license plates. Upon payment of the additional fee required by section 42-3-211 (6) (a) for personalized license plates, the department may issue the plates if the applicant complies with section 42-3-211. If an applicant has existing personalized license plates for a motor vehicle, the applicant may transfer the combination of letters or numbers to a new set of Colorado conservation license plates for the vehicle upon paying the fee required by section 42-3-211 (6) (a) and upon turning in the existing plates to the department. A person who has obtained personalized Colorado conservation license plates under this subsection (4) shall pay the annual fee imposed by section 42-3-211 (6) (b) for renewal of the personalized plates. The fees under this subsection (4) are in addition to all other applicable taxes and fees. SECTION 2. Appropriation. (1) In addition to any other appropriation, there is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the Colorado state titling and registration account of the highway users tax fund created in section 42-1-211 (2), Colorado Revised Statutes, not otherwise appropriated, to the department of revenue, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, the sum of $2,960, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be allocated for the purchase of computer center services related to the implementation of this act. (2) In addition to any other appropriation, there is hereby appropriated to the governor - lieutenant governor - state planning and budgeting, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, the sum of $2,960, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for allocation to the office of information technology, for the provision of computer center services for the department of revenue related to the implementation of this act. Said sum is from reappropriated funds received from the department of revenue out of the appropriation made subsection (1) of this section. (3) In addition to any other appropriation, there is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the license plate cash fund created in section 42-3-301 (1) (b), Colorado Revised Statutes, not otherwise appropriated, to the department of revenue, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, the sum of $5,920, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for allocation to the division of motor vehicles for the purchase of license plates and tabs related to the implementation of this act. SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date - applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 8, 2012, if adjournment sine die is on May 9, 2012); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2012 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor. (2) The provisions of this act apply to applications submitted on or after January 1, 2013.