HB103: relative to motor vehicle plates for firefighters and emergency medical care providers.

HB 103-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2003 SESSION

03-0005

03/09

HOUSE BILL HB 103-FN

AN ACT relative to motor vehicle plates for firefighters and emergency medical care providers.

SPONSORS: Rep. Dionne, Hills 42; Rep. Elliott, Hills 42; Rep. Phinizy, Sull 23; Rep. Heon, Straf 67; Rep. Bridle, Rock 85; Sen. Odell, Dist 8; Sen. Sapareto, Dist 19; Sen. Estabrook, Dist 21

COMMITTEE: Transportation

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes special number plates to be affixed to the personal vehicles of licensed emergency medical care providers and firefighters who respond to calls.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03-0005

03/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

AN ACT relative to motor vehicle plates for firefighters and emergency medical care providers.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Subparagraph; Department of Safety; Rulemaking Authority; Motor Vehicle Registration; Emergency Personnel Plates. Amend RSA 21-P:14, III by inserting after subparagraph (ii) the following new subparagraph:

(jj) Application for emergency personnel plates, as authorized by RSA 261:91-a.

2 New Section; Certificates of Title and Registration of Vehicles; Number Plates; Emergency Personnel Plates. Amend RSA 261 by inserting after section 91 the following new section:

261:91-a Emergency Personnel Plates.

I. The director shall design and issue, with the approval of the commissioner, special number plates to be affixed to the personal vehicles of licensed emergency medical care providers and firefighters who respond to calls. The special plates for fire fighters shall include a rendering of the Maltese cross and shall be sequentially numbered as issued. The special plates for emergency medical care providers shall include a rendering of the Star of Life and shall be sequentially numbered as issued.

II. The director shall issue one set of emergency personnel plates to any person who meets the qualifications of paragraph III, and who furnishes the director with proof of those qualifications on an application form provided by the department. The application shall be signed by the fire chief. If emergency medical care services are provided by an entity other than the fire department, the official responsible for emergency medical care services shall sign the application of the emergency medical care provider.

III.(a) For the purposes of this section, a firefighter is a person who has the authority and responsibility to engage in the prevention, control, or extinguishment of fires, and who performs activities that are required for and directly concerned with the prevention, control, or extinguishment of fires, including incidental non-firefighting functions.

(b) For purposes of this section, a licensed emergency medical care provider is a person licensed under RSA 153-A, and who provides emergency medical care services on behalf of the town.

IV. A firefighter or emergency medical care provider who is issued emergency personnel plates under paragraph II shall return those plates to the division of motor vehicles no later than 10 days after the firefighter or emergency medical care provider leaves his or her position. When the firefighter or emergency medical care provider leaves his or her position, the person responsible for signing the application under paragraph II shall immediately notify the director.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

03-0005

11/25/02

HB 103-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to motor vehicle plates for firefighters and emergency medical care providers.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department of Safety states this bill will decrease state highway fund revenue and increase state restricted expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2003 and each fiscal year thereafter. There will be no impact on county and local revenue or expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

The Department states this legislation will establish special number plates for the personal vehicles of licensed emergency medical care providers and firefighters who respond to calls. The number of individuals who will be eligible for the new plate is unknown. The Department assumes the plates will be provided in lieu of regular motor vehicle plates, and individuals would not have to pay a registration fee (since no fee is specified in this legislation). As a result, state highway fund revenue would decrease by an average of $37.20 per vehicle. The Department states the minimum startup cost of any new plate issue is $30,000 for various items, such as computer time, planning time, artist fees, special printing, handling, and accounting. In addition, assuming the minimum number of plates for any new issue would be 5,000 pairs, the up-front costs to manufacture these plates is approximately $67,500, for a total minimum cost to the Graphic Plate Fund of $97,500.