HOUSE BILL 255

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2024

INTRODUCED BY

John Block and David M. Gallegos

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE CODE TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL GADSDEN FLAG GUN SAFETY AWARENESS VEHICLE 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 GADSDEN FLAG GUN SAFETY AWARENESS REGISTRATION PLATE.--

          A. The division shall issue a standardized Gadsden flag gun safety awareness special registration plate indicating that the recipient supports gun safety awareness. The plate shall have a logo designed pursuant to Section 66-3-424 NMSA 1978 that includes:

                (1) a Gadsden flag with a coiled timber rattlesnake poised to strike on a yellow field;

                (2) the words "Gun Safety Awareness" in red lettering at the top; and

                (3) in capital letters "DON'T TREAD ON ME" in red lettering beneath the rattlesnake.

          B. For an initial fee of fifty dollars ($50.00), which shall be in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fees, the owner of a vehicle may apply for issuance of a Gadsden flag gun safety awareness special registration plate. The vehicle owner shall pay a renewal fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) each year to retain and renew the Gadsden flag gun safety awareness special registration plate.

          C. The revenue from the additional fee for a Gadsden flag gun safety awareness special registration plate shall be distributed as follows:

                (1) twelve dollars ($12.00) of the initial fee collected shall be retained by and is appropriated to the department to defray the cost of making and issuing the Gadsden flag gun safety awareness special registration plate; and

                 (2) thirty-eight dollars ($38.00) of the initial registration fee and the entire twenty dollars ($20.00) of subsequent renewal fees shall be distributed and are appropriated to the hunter training program of the department of game and fish to promote safety in the handling of firearms pursuant to Section 17-2-34 NMSA 1978.

          D. Beginning on July 1, 2027 and on July 1 of each subsequent year, the department shall compare the number of the Gadsden flag gun safety awareness special registration plates issued, or registration renewals for those plates in the previous fiscal year, with the average of the number of such plates issued in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

          E. By September 1 of a fiscal year in which the department determines that the number of Gadsden flag gun safety awareness special registration plates issued and registration renewals for those plates in the previous fiscal year is less than fifty percent of the average number of such plates issued in fiscal years 2025 and 2026, the department shall stop issuing the Gadsden flag gun safety awareness special registration plates."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2024.

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