GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 1137
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/29/97

Short Title:  Soil and Water Conservation Plates.	(Public)

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Sponsors:

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Referred to:  

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April 21, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CREATE A SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE TO PROMOTE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PORTION OF THE SALES REVENUE GOES TO FUND WATER QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 20-79.4 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(22a1)	Soil and Water Conservation. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12.  The plate shall bear a picture appropriate to the subject of water quality and environmental protection in North Carolina and the letters ‘WQ'."
Section 2.  G.S. 20-79.7(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Fees. – Upon request, the Division shall provide and issue free of charge one registration plate to a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, a 100% disabled veteran, and an ex-prisoner of war. All other special registration plates are subject to the regular motor vehicle registration fee in G.S. 20-87 or G.S. 20-88 plus an additional fee in the following amount:
Special Plate	Additional Fee Amount
Historical Attraction	$30.00
State Attraction	$30.00
Collegiate Insignia	$25.00
Olympic Games	$25.00
Special Olympics	$25.00
Wildlife Resources	$20.00
Soil and Water Conservation	$20.00
Personalized	$20.00
Active Member of the National Guard	 None
All Other Special Plates	$10.00."
Section 3.  G.S. 20-79.7(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Distribution of Fees. – The Special Registration Plate Account and the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account are established within the Highway Fund.  The Division must credit the additional fee imposed for the special registration plates listed in subsection (a) among the Special Registration Plate Account (SRPA), the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account (CCAPA), and the Natural Heritage Trust Fund (NHTF), which is established under G.S. 113-77.7, as follows:
Special Plate	SRPA	CCAPA	NHTF
Historical Attraction	 $10	 $20	   0
In-State Collegiate Insignia	 $10	 $15	   0
Out-of-state Collegiate Insignia	 $10	   0	 $15
Personalized	 $10	   0	 $10
Special Olympics	 $10	 $15	   0
Olympic Games	 $10	 $15	   0
State Attraction	 $10	 $20	   0
Wildlife Resources	 $10	 $10	   0
Soil and Water Conservation	 $10	 $10	   0
All other Special Plates	 $10	   0	   0."
Section 4.  G.S. 20-81.12 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"( b5)	Soil and Water Conservation Plates. – The Division must receive 300 or more applications for a soil and water conservation plate before the plate may be developed.  The Division shall transfer, quarterly, the money in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account derived from the sale of the water quality plates to the Soil and Water Conservation Account established by G.S. 143B-297.1."
Section 5.  Part 7 of Article 7 of Chapter 143B is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 143B-297.1.  Soil and Water Conservation Account.
The Soil and Water Conservation Account is established as a nonreverting fund and is subject to the oversight of the State Auditor pursuant to Article 5A of Chapter 147 of the General Statutes.  Revenue derived from the sale of water quality license plates is credited to the account.  The Commission shall use the revenue from the account to fund environmental education and water quality education in North Carolina."
Section 6.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.