H.B. 91

127th General Assembly

(As Introduced)

Reps. Goyal, Dyer, Garrison, Budish, J. McGregor, Healy, Brown, Seitz, Dodd, Fende, Miller, Collier, Stebelton, Carano, Skindell, Lundy, Harwood

BILL SUMMARY

· Permits a motor vehicle that is titled in the name of a United States veterans service organization and is used solely for participation in organizational activities, exhibitions, parades, and similar purposes to be registered without the payment of any registration tax, local motor vehicle tax, or service fee.

· Provides that in order for the president, commander, or adjutant of a United States service organization to apply for an honorary license plate designating the organization with which the applicant is affiliated, the organization must be a United States veterans service organization, but it does not have to be chartered by Congress.

CONTENT AND OPERATION

Current law permits a United States service organization that is chartered by Congress to apply to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles for issuance of a special license that covers the operation of specially equipped motor vehicles for parade and exhibition purposes. This license, which must display the voiture (car) or post number, authorizes the motor vehicle to be operated no more than 12 times per year. The annual license fee is $2. (R.C. 4503.18.)

In place of this law, the bill permits a motor vehicle that is titled in the name of a United States veterans service organization and is used solely for participation in organizational activities, exhibitions, parades, and similar purposes to be registered without the payment of any registration tax, local motor vehicle tax, or service fee. In applying for registration of such a motor vehicle, a member of the service organization must sign an affidavit, prescribed by the Registrar, stating that the vehicle is to be used solely for such purposes. The member also must present satisfactory evidence of the organization's status as a United States veterans service organization. Upon receipt of the evidence, affidavit, and registration application, the Registrar is required to issue the applicant permanent license plates for the vehicle. (R.C. 4503.18(B).)

Current law also permits the president, commander, or adjutant of a United States service organization chartered by Congress to present a paid valid current year registration and apply for an honorary license plate designating the organization with which the applicant is affiliated. This honorary license plate must be displayed in lieu of the regular license plate. The original registration card must be in the vehicle at all times and be submitted for inspection upon the demand of any police officer. The annual fee for an honorary license plate is $5. The bill provides that the organization must be a United States veterans service organization, but it does not have to be chartered by Congress. (R.C. 4503.18(C).)

The bill defines a "United States veterans service organization" as meaning any organization chartered by Congress or recognized by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of representing veterans affairs claimants (R.C. 4503.18(A)).

COMMENT

United States veterans service organizations that are chartered by Congress include the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans.

HISTORY

ACTION	DATE
Introduced	03-06-07

H0091-I-127.doc/jc