RSA 228:25 · Addition to Fund

228:25 Addition to Fund. –
I. There is hereby established an inventory fund in the department of safety consisting of the initial appropriation of $1,000,000 which sum is hereby authorized as a revolving fund comprised of funds in the highway fund that are not otherwise appropriated and into which shall be deposited additional revenues derived from the number plate manufacturing fee established in this paragraph. The fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the department. The department of safety shall purchase such raw materials to issue fully reflectorized motor vehicle number plates. This purchase shall be a charge against the inventory fund and the department of safety shall be responsible for the control and accountability of the raw materials so charged. Said number plates shall be manufactured at the department of safety. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner of safety shall charge, in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, a number plate manufacturing fee of $4.00 per plate at the time of issuing said reflectorized motor vehicle number plates or replacement reflectorized number plates. Said additional charge shall not give the registrant any title or other property interest in said plates. The commissioner of safety shall report to the governor, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives, no later than 90 days after the close of the second fiscal year of each biennium, the year ending balance in the inventory fund and the department's recommendation as to when the next general issue of number plates should commence, the estimated cost of such a general issue, and the estimated annual cost to support routine plate issue and replacement without a new general issue.
II. [Repealed.]
III. In accordance with the provisions of paragraph I, replacement plates may be purchased from the inventory fund.
IV. If the department of safety is unable to manufacture or deliver reflectorized motor vehicle plates in a timely manner because of an emergency interruption resulting from an unforeseen cause, as determined by the commissioner of safety, the commissioner shall submit a written report to the governor and council and shall request that an outside vendor be retained to manufacture said plates. If at any time the commissioner of safety determines that the department of safety cannot produce number plates at a competitive price or meet reasonable delivery schedules, the commissioner shall report to the fiscal committee of the general court and the governor and council, and shall request that an outside vendor be retained to manufacture the plates. Upon approval of the governor and council, the commissioner shall request the department of administrative services, division of procurement and support services to select an outside vendor in accordance with RSA 8:19.
V. The commissioner of safety, with approval of the governor, may charge the necessary expenses for the manufacture, storage, handling, issuance, and distribution of reflectorized motor vehicle number plates against the inventory fund provided under this section.
Source. RSA 229:6-d. 1977, 600:33. 1981, 54:3; 87:1; 568:63. 1985, 323:1, 2; 399:3, I. 1987, 404:1. 1997, 186:1, 4. 2002, 165:1. 2008, 158:1, eff. July 1, 2008. 2014, 327:63, eff. Aug. 2, 2014. 2025, 141:384, eff. July 1, 2025.