SENATE CORPORATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL 273

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

AN ACT

RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES; CREATING A STANDARDIZED REGISTRATION PLATE TO ACCOMMODATE SPECIAL REGISTRATION DECALS DESIGNED BY NEW MEXICO'S INDIAN NATIONS, TRIBES AND PUEBLOS; CREATING THE NAVAJO CODE TALKER SPECIAL 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] STANDARDIZED REGISTRATION PLATES--TRIBALLY DESIGNED SPECIAL REGISTRATION DECALS.--

          A. For a fee of ten dollars ($10.00), which shall

be in addition to the regular motor registration fee, the

department shall issue standardized registration plates with

space for a tribally designed special registration decal approved by the department. The fee collected for each registration plate shall be retained by the department and is appropriated to the department for the manufacture and issuance of the registration plate and for tribally designed special registration decals. No two owners shall be issued identically lettered or numbered registration plates.

          B. Tribally designed special registration plates, on the standardized areas, shall:

                (1) display the colors of the state flag, with red lettering on a yellow background;

                (2) display the phrases "New Mexico USA" and "Land of Enchantment";

                (3) provide a space for applying a special registration decal, centered at the left edge of the plate between the attachment holes, beginning one-fourth inch in from the edge of the plate and having the following dimensions:

                     (a) four and one-eighth inches in height; and

                     (b) three and one-eighth inches in width; and

                (4) provide a vehicle registration number, to be assigned by the department, that consists of five alphanumeric characters displayed to the right of the special decal area.

          C. Tribally designed special registration decals, except for the standard dimensions specified in Paragraph (3) of Subsection B of this section, shall be left to the design discretion of each federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or pueblo located wholly or partially in New Mexico, in consultation with and as approved by the department.

          D. Each federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or pueblo located wholly or partially in New Mexico that designs a special registration decal shall provide a sample of the decal design in a format specified by the department.

          E. The department may promulgate rules for the implementation of the provisions of this section."

     SECTION 2. A new section of the Motor Vehicle Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] NAVAJO CODE TALKER SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATE--PROCEDURE--FEE.--

          A. The department shall establish and issue a standardized special registration plate with a logo specified in Section 66-3-424 NMSA 1978 featuring artwork related to Navajo code talkers. The department shall adopt procedures for application for and issuance of the Navajo code talker special registration plate.

          B. The department, in consultation with the Navajo Nation, shall determine the color and design of the Navajo code talker special registration logo, and the division shall provide for its issuance.

          C. For a fee of ten dollars ($10.00), which shall be in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, any owner of a motor vehicle may apply for the issuance of a Navajo code talker special registration plate. The owner of a motor vehicle shall apply and pay a fee each year that the owner wishes to retain and renew the Navajo code talker special registration plate.

          D. The fee collected for each Navajo code talker special registration plate shall be retained by the department and is appropriated to the department for the manufacture and issuance of the special registration plate. No two owners shall be issued identically lettered or numbered registration plates."

     SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2019.

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