GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	3 

HOUSE BILL 1137
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/29/97
Committee Substitute #2 Favorable 5/21/97

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(b) 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 may bear a phrase and picture appropriate to the subject of water quality and environmental protection in North Carolina."
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
Soil and Water Conservation	$20.00
Wildlife Resources	$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
Soil and Water Conservation	 $10	 $10	   0
Wildlife Resources	 $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 soil and water conservation plates to the Soil and Water Conservation Account established in 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 account within the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources.  The Account consists of revenue credited to the Account from the sale of soil and water conservation special license plates.  The Commission shall use the revenue from the account to fund environmental education and water quality education in North Carolina."
Section 6.  This act is effective when it becomes law.