SENATE BILL 298

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

John M. Sapien

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; PROVIDING FOR A SPECIAL BIG GAME HUNTING REGISTRATION PLATE; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Motor Vehicle Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] SPECIAL BIG GAME HUNTING REGISTRATION PLATES--PROCEDURES--FEES.--

          A. The department shall establish and issue a standardized special registration plate with a logo specified in Section 66-3-424 NMSA 1978 featuring big game hunting in New Mexico for any private motor vehicle except a motorcycle. The department shall adopt procedures for application for and issuance of the special big game hunting registration plates.

          B. The logo of the special big game hunting registration plates shall feature a mature bull elk. The director of the department of game and fish shall designate a "big game hunting" logo design committee that shall recommend to the director the color and design of the special big game hunting logo. The director of the department of game and fish in cooperation with the secretary shall determine the final design of the special big game hunting logo. No personalized or vanity design variation of the special big game hunting registration plates shall be issued.

          C. For a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), which shall be in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fees, an owner of a motor vehicle may apply for the issuance of a special big game hunting registration plate. The owner of a motor vehicle shall apply for the plate and pay the twenty-five-dollar ($25.00) fee for the first year and ten dollars ($10.00) for each subsequent year if the owner wishes to retain and renew the special big game hunting registration plate.

          D. The revenue from the additional fee for a special big game hunting registration plate shall be distributed as follows:

                (1) ten dollars ($10.00) of the initial fee collected shall be retained by the division and is appropriated to the division to defray the cost of making and issuing special big game hunting registration plates; and

                (2) fifteen dollars ($15.00) of the initial fee and the entire renewal fee collected shall be distributed to the game protection fund."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2011.

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