To enact sections 4501.243 and 4503.563 of the Revised Code to create the "Ohio Nature Preserves" license plate.

Section 1. That sections 4501.243 and 4503.563 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 4501.243.  There is hereby created in the state treasury the Ohio nature preserves fund. The fund shall consist of the contributions that are paid to the registrar of motor vehicles by applicants who obtain Ohio nature preserves license plates pursuant to section 4503.563 of the Revised Code. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

The department of natural resources shall use the money in the fund to help finance nature preserve education, nature preserve clean-up projects, and nature preserve maintenance, protection, and restoration.

Sec. 4503.563.  (A) The owner or lessee of any passenger car, noncommercial motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, or other vehicle of a class approved by the registrar of motor vehicles may apply to the registrar for the registration of the vehicle and issuance of Ohio nature preserves license plates. The application for Ohio nature preserves license plates may be combined with a request for a special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of the completed application and compliance with division (B) of this section, the registrar shall issue to the applicant the appropriate vehicle registration and a set of Ohio nature preserves license plates with a validation sticker or a validation sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of the Revised Code.

In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed thereon, Ohio nature preserves license plates shall be inscribed with identifying words or markings designed by the department of natural resources and approved by the registrar. Ohio nature preserves license plates shall bear county identification stickers that identify the county of registration by name or number.

(B) The Ohio nature preserves license plates and validation sticker shall be issued upon receipt of a contribution as provided in division (C) of this section and upon payment of the regular license fees as prescribed under section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, a bureau of motor vehicles administrative fee of ten dollars, any applicable motor vehicle tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, and compliance with all other applicable laws relating to the registration of motor vehicles. If the application for Ohio nature preserves license plates is combined with a request for a special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code, the license plates and validation sticker shall be issued upon payment of the contribution, fees, and taxes contained in this division and the additional fee prescribed under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code.

(C) For each application for registration and registration renewal submitted under this section, the registrar shall collect a contribution in an amount not to exceed forty dollars as determined by the department. The registrar shall transmit this contribution to the treasurer of state for deposit in the Ohio nature preserves fund created in section 4501.243 of the Revised Code.

The registrar shall deposit the ten-dollar bureau administrative fee, the purpose of which is to compensate the bureau for additional services required in issuing Ohio nature preserves license plates, in the state bureau of motor vehicles fund created in section 4501.25 of the Revised Code.