Florida Senate - 2011                                     SB 716
       
       
       
       By Senator Fasano
       
       
       
       
       11-00785A-11                                           2011716__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to corporate license plates; creating
    3         s. 320.08052, F.S.; authorizing the Department of
    4         Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to create a
    5         corporate license plate program and enter into certain
    6         agreements with certain entities; requiring that
    7         corporate license plates meet specified criteria and
    8         that certain aspects of such license plates be
    9         approved by the department; authorizing owners of
   10         specified vehicles to apply for such license plates;
   11         requiring that specified minimum fees be paid by
   12         applicants and corporate sponsors for such
   13         applications; requiring that the department, upon
   14         approval of an application, issue the appropriate
   15         corporate plate to the vehicle owner, along with a
   16         registration and decal valid for a specified period;
   17         providing for the distribution of fees collected;
   18         authorizing corporate sponsors to participate in the
   19         program by submitting a specified minimum initial
   20         application fee; requiring that a corporate sponsor
   21         meet specified eligibility requirements; requiring
   22         that the department adopt rules; providing an
   23         effective date.
   24  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   25  
   26         Section 1. Section 320.08052, Florida Statutes, is created
   27  to read:
   28         320.08052 Corporate license plates.—
   29         (1) The department is authorized to create a corporate
   30  license plate program. The department may enter into agreements
   31  with any business entity, advertising firm, or for-profit
   32  business that provides the department the required legal
   33  documentation to use a corporate logo on a Florida license
   34  plate.
   35         (2) The design of a corporate license plate must be
   36  approved by the department and must have the word “Florida” at
   37  the top. A corporate license plate may be personalized as
   38  provided in s. 320.0805 but must be approved by the corporate
   39  sponsor and the department before issuance.
   40         (3) A vehicle owner may apply for a corporate license plate
   41  for any motor vehicle registered in the owner’s name weighing
   42  7,999 pounds or less and registered as a vehicle for private
   43  use. Each application must be accompanied by an application fee
   44  of 50 percent of the current fee for that vehicle. The
   45  application by any vehicle owner for a corporate license plate
   46  authorizes the department, upon acceptance, to provide the
   47  applicant’s name and address to the corporate sponsor in
   48  compliance with s. 119.0712(2). Upon approval of the
   49  application, the corporate sponsor shall immediately remit to
   50  the department a fee of not less than $75. The department shall
   51  issue the appropriate corporate plate to the vehicle owner,
   52  along with a registration and decal, and the registration is
   53  valid for one registration period, which may not exceed 15
   54  months. The proceeds of the fees paid pursuant to this
   55  subsection shall be distributed as provided in this chapter.
   56  Excess revenues remaining after the distribution of all required
   57  fees shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust
   58  Fund to fund the general operations of the department.
   59         (4) A corporate sponsor may participate in the program by
   60  submitting an initial application fee to the department of at
   61  least $5,000 for the purchase of the initial inventory. In order
   62  to participate in the program, a corporate sponsor must provide
   63  evidence of the ability to pay $75 per vehicle owner for a
   64  minimum of 5,000 vehicle owners.
   65         (5) The department shall adopt rules to administer this
   66  section.
   67         Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2011.