Vermont S 234: An act relating to miscellaneous judiciary procedures

Bill Text

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VT LEG #385945 v.1
S.234 1
Introduced by Senators Westman and Baruth 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Motor vehicles; registration; license plates; Vermont Green FC 5
license plates 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to permit the 7
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to issue Vermont Green FC license plates 8
and to create the Vermont Green FC Special Fund in the Office of the 9
Treasurer to provide grants to support environmental justice and Vermont’s 10
outdoor recreation economy. 11
An act relating to the Vermont Green FC license plate 12
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 13
Sec. 1. 23 V.S.A. § 304d is added to read: 14
§ 304d. MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION PLATES; VERMONT 15
GREEN FC 16
(a) The Commissioner shall, upon application, issue “Vermont Green FC” 17
registration plates for use only on vehicles registered at the pleasure car rate, 18
on trucks registered for less than 26,001 pounds, on vehicles registered to State 19
agencies under section 376 of this title, and excluding vehicles registered under 20

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VT LEG #385945 v.1
the International Registration Plan. Plates so acquired shall be mounted on the 1
front and rear of the vehicle. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall 2
utilize the graphic design recommended by the Office of the Treasurer for the 3
special plates to enhance the public awareness of the State’s interest in 4
supporting environmental justice and the outdoor recreation economy. 5
Applicants shall apply on forms prescribed by the Commissioner of Motor 6
Vehicles and shall pay an initial fee of $45.00 in addition to the annual fee for 7
registration. In following years, in addition to the annual registration fee, the 8
holder of a plate shall pay a renewal fee of $45.00. The Commissioner of 9
Motor Vehicles shall adopt rules under 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 to implement the 10
provisions of this subsection. 11
(b) Initial registration fees collected under subsection (a) of this section 12
shall be deposited as follows: 13
(1) 23 percent in the Transportation Fund; and 14
(2) 77 percent in the Vermont Green FC Special Fund created pursuant 15
to 32 V.S.A. § 112. 16
(c) Renewal fees collected under subsection (a) of this section shall be 17
deposited as follows: 18
(1) 16 percent in the Transportation Fund; and 19
(2) 84 percent in the Vermont Green FC Special Fund created in 32 20
V.S.A. § 112. 21

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VT LEG #385945 v.1
(d) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall be charged by the Department 1
of Corrections for the production of the Vermont Green FC registration plates. 2
Sec. 2. 32 V.S.A. § 112 is added to read: 3
§ 112. VERMONT GREEN FC SPECIAL FUND 4
(a) There is established the Vermont Green FC Special Fund, which shall 5
be managed in accordance with chapter 7, subchapter 5 of this title. The 6
purpose of the Fund is to provide support for environmental justice and the 7
outdoor recreation economy. 8
(b) The Fund shall consist of: 9
(1) receipts from the sale of Vermont Green FC motor vehicle 10
registration plates pursuant to 23 V.S.A. § 304d; 11
(2) any gifts, grants, or contributions made to the Fund; and 12
(3) any amounts appropriated by the General Assembly. 13
(c)(1) All interest earned on Fund balances shall be credited to the Fund. 14
(2) The Treasurer and the board created pursuant to subsection (d) of 15
this section may seek and accept gifts, donations, and grants from any source, 16
public or private, to be dedicated for deposit into the Fund. 17
(3) Monies in the Fund shall be used solely to provide support for 18
environmental justice and the outdoor recreation economy and for any 19
administrative costs incurred in administering the Fund. 20

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VT LEG #385945 v.1
(d)(1) The Fund shall be overseen by a board composed of: 1
(A) the Treasurer or designee; 2
(B) the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or designee; 3
(C) the Director of the Climate Action Office or designee; 4
(D) a representative of the Vermont Green Football Club; and 5
(E) the Executive Director of the Vermont Outdoor Business 6
Alliance or designee. 7
(2) The board shall oversee the Fund and may make expenditures from 8
the Fund in the form of grants to local and regional governments or 9
governmental agencies, or nonprofit or citizen groups for the following 10
reasons: 11
(A) to advance environmental justice; and 12
(B) to support the growth of Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy. 13
(3) The board shall have the administrative and legal support of the 14
Office of the Treasurer. 15
Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 16
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026. 17