SB375

By Senator Waggoner

ENROLLED, An Act,

Relating to Jefferson County; to amend Section 45-37-200.03, Code of Alabama 1975, as last amended by Act 2015-241 of the 2015 Regular Session, authorizing the designated city officers or employees of cities in the county to issue motor vehicle registrations; to further authorize the issuance of boat registrations and initial registrations and changes in ownership of motor vehicles.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:Section 1. Section 45-37-200.03, Code of Alabama 1975, as last amended by Act 2015-241 of the 2015 Regular Session, is amended to read as follows:

§45-37-200.03.

"(a) The Legislature finds that Jefferson County has reduced the number of locations where the citizens of Jefferson County may be issued their motor vehicle registrations due to the financial difficulties of the county resulting in impediments to the citizens and to the collection of state and local taxes and fees. The Legislature further finds that there is a substantial local need to provide additional and supplemental means for the issuance of motor vehicle registrations in Jefferson County in response to a demonstrated local need in the county. The Legislature further finds that citizens often desire to register their boats at the same time that they register their motor vehicles, and therefore, citizens should be able to register their boats at the same locations where they register their motor vehicles as a matter of public convenience.

"(b) In Jefferson County, the mayor of any city in the county may designate a city officer or employee his or her agents and employees, to issue motor vehicle registrations, to include the issuance of license plates and decals. The city license plate issuing official may not issue license plates when a vehicle has not been previously registered in this state by or in the name of the current vehicle owner. In the case of the initial registration or change in the ownership of a motor vehicle, the designated city officer, or his or her agents or employees, may only issue a motor vehicle license plate or decal if a new Alabama title application has been completed for the applicable motor vehicle by a designated agent of the Department of Revenue. The city license plate issuing official designated city officer, or his or her agents or employees, may only issue motor vehicle registrations for a resident of the city. The city license plate issuing official designated city officer, or his or her agents or employees, shall collect the registration fees and ad valorem taxes on the vehicle or boat and remit the registration fees and taxes in the same manner as the county license plate issuing official. In addition, the city license plate issuing official, or his or her agents or employees, shall collect the same issuance fees as provided for the county license plate issuing official, which fees shall be retained by the city and credited to the city general fund. In addition, the city may levy and collect an additional issuance fee as provided in subsection (c). The city shall also deduct and retain in the city general fund all commissions on the assessment and collection of ad valorem taxes in the same manner as the county license issuing official, except that the calculation of commissions for assessments and collections of taxes on motor vehicles for the General Fund of the state and the general fund of the county shall be at a rate of one percent for assessments and one percent for collections. The city shall be audited by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts related to the issuance of motor vehicle registrations pursuant to this section. The city shall be responsible for any shortages as determined by the audit. The city license plate issuing official designated city officer and his or her employees shall be bonded by a bonding company authorized to do business in this state in such sums sufficient to cover the amounts set out in Section 12-13-33 for judges of probate. The bond shall be conditioned as other official bonds are conditioned and shall be approved by the mayor and the city council of the city.

"(c) The city council of a city that issues motor vehicle or boat registrations, or both, pursuant to this section may levy an annual additional issuance fee, not to exceed five dollars ($5), for each motor vehicle plate or boat registration issued by the city license plate issuing official designated city officer, and his or her agents or employees. The annual additional fee authorized by this section shall become due at the same time the state registration fee becomes due. The annual additional fee shall not be collected more than once per vehicle during a registration year. The local issuance fee collected pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited into the general fund of the city levying the fee and shall be used for the operation of the city license plate issuing official's office.

"(d) The provisions of this section are supplemental and shall not affect any existing law except as needed to implement this section."

Section 2. This act shall become effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

Jefferson County

Municipalities

Counties

Motor Vehicles

Licenses and Licensing

Revenue Department

Code Amended