CS/CS/HB 275

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to motor vehicle, mobile home, and vessel
3	registration; amending s. 320.01, F.S.; redefining the
4	term "registration period"; defining the term "extended
5	registration period"; amending s. 320.055, F.S.;
6	establishing an extended registration period and renewal
7	period for certain motor vehicles and mobile homes;
8	amending s. 320.06, F.S.; extending the time period and
9	revising the fee for replacement of registration license
10	plates; providing for staggered implementation; extending
11	the period of validity of license plates and validation
12	stickers to provide for an extended registration period;
13	amending s. 320.07, F.S.; providing for the semiannual,
14	annual, or biennial renewal of motor vehicle and mobile
15	home registrations; authorizing the biennial renewal of
16	certain motor vehicle and mobile home registrations upon
17	payment of the cumulative total of license taxes, service
18	charges, surcharges, and other fees; amending s. 320.071,
19	F.S.; specifying that the registration period for a motor
20	vehicle or mobile home may not exceed a specified number
21	of months; creating s. 320.203, F.S.; providing for the
22	disposition of biennial registration revenues; amending s.
23	328.72, F.S.; providing for an extended registration
24	period for certain vessel owners; providing an effective
25	date.
26
27	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
28
29	Section 1.  Subsection (19) of section 320.01, Florida
30	Statutes, is amended to read:
31	320.01  Definitions, general.--As used in the Florida
32	Statutes, except as otherwise provided, the term:
33	(19)(a)  "Registration period" means a period of 12 months
34	or 24 months during which a motor vehicle or mobile home
35	registration is valid.
36	(b)  "Extended registration period" means a period of 24
37	months during which a motor vehicle or mobile home registration
38	is valid.
39	Section 2.  Subsection (1) of section 320.055, Florida
40	Statutes, is amended to read:
41	320.055  Registration periods; renewal periods.--The
42	following registration periods and renewal periods are
43	established:
44	(1)(a)  For a motor vehicle subject to registration under
45	s. 320.08(1), (2), (3), (5)(b), (c), (d), or (f), (6)(a), (7),
46	(8), (9), or (10) and owned by a natural person, the
47	registration period begins the first day of the birth month of
48	the owner and ends the last day of the month immediately
49	preceding the owner's birth month in the succeeding year. If
50	such vehicle is registered in the name of more than one person,
51	the birth month of the person whose name first appears on the
52	registration shall be used to determine the registration period.
53	For a vehicle subject to this registration period, the renewal
54	period is the 30-day period ending at midnight on the vehicle
55	owner's date of birth.
56	(b)  A motor vehicle or mobile home that is subject to
57	registration under s. 320.08(1), (2), (3), (4)(a) or (b), (6),
58	(7), (8), (9), (10), or (11) is eligible for an extended
59	registration period as defined in s. 320.01(19)(b).
60	(c)(b)  Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (a),
61	the owner of a motor vehicle subject to paragraph (a) who has
62	had his or her driver's license suspended pursuant to a
63	violation of s. 316.193 or pursuant to s. 322.26(2) for driving
64	under the influence must obtain a 6-month registration as a
65	condition of reinstating the license, subject to renewal during
66	the 3-year period that financial responsibility requirements
67	apply. The registration period begins the first day of the birth
68	month of the owner and ends the last day of the fifth month
69	immediately following the owner's birth month. For such
70	vehicles, the department shall issue a vehicle registration
71	certificate that is valid for 6 months and shall issue a
72	validation sticker that displays an expiration date of 6 months
73	after the date of issuance. The license tax required by s.
74	320.08 and all other applicable license taxes shall be one-half
75	of the amount otherwise required, except the service charge
76	required by s. 320.04 shall be paid in full for each 6-month
77	registration. A vehicle required to be registered under this
78	paragraph is not eligible for the extended registration period
79	under paragraph (b).
80	Section 3.  Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of
81	section 320.06, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
82	320.06  Registration certificates, license plates, and
83	validation stickers generally.--
84	(1)
85	(b)  Registration license plates bearing a graphic symbol
86	and the alphanumeric system of identification shall be issued
87	for a 6-year 5-year period. At the end of that 6-year said 5-
88	year period, upon renewal, the plate shall be replaced. The
89	department shall stagger the implementation of the 6-year
90	license plate replacement cycle. The fee for such replacement is
91	$12 shall be $10, $2 of which shall be paid each year before the
92	plate is replaced, to be credited towards the next $12 $10
93	replacement fee. The fees shall be deposited into the Highway
94	Safety Operating Trust Fund. A credit or refund shall not be
95	given for any prior years' payments of such prorated replacement
96	fee if when the plate is replaced or surrendered before the end
97	of the 6-year 5-year period, except that a credit may be given
98	when a registrant is required by the department to replace a
99	license plate under s. 320.08056(8)(a). With each license plate,
100	there shall be issued a validation sticker showing the owner's
101	birth month, license plate number, and the year of expiration or
102	the appropriate renewal period if the owner is not a natural
103	person. The validation sticker shall is to be placed on the
104	upper right corner of the license plate. Such license plate and
105	validation sticker shall be issued based on the applicant's
106	appropriate renewal period. The registration period is shall be
107	a period of 12 months, the extended registration period is a
108	period of 24 months, and all expirations shall occur based on
109	the applicant's appropriate registration period. A vehicle with
110	an apportioned registration shall be issued an annual license
111	plate and a cab card that denote the declared gross vehicle
112	weight for each apportioned jurisdiction in which the vehicle is
113	authorized to operate.
114	(c)  Registration license plates equipped with validation
115	stickers subject to the registration period are shall be valid
116	for not more than 12 months and shall expire at midnight on the
117	last day of the registration period. A registration license
118	plate equipped with a validation sticker subject to the extended
119	registration period is valid for not more than 24 months and
120	expires at midnight on the last day of the extended registration
121	period. For each registration period after the one in which the
122	metal registration license plate is issued, and until the
123	license plate is required to be replaced, a validation sticker
124	showing the month and year of expiration shall be issued upon
125	payment of the proper license tax amount and fees and is shall
126	be valid for not more than 12 months. For each extended
127	registration period occurring after the one in which the metal
128	registration license plate is issued and until the license plate
129	is required to be replaced, a validation sticker showing the
130	year of expiration shall be issued upon payment of the proper
131	license tax amount and fees and is valid for not more than 24
132	months. When license plates equipped with validation stickers
133	are issued in any month other than the owner's birth month or
134	the designated registration period for any other motor vehicle,
135	the effective date shall reflect the birth month or month and
136	the year of renewal. However, when a license plate or validation
137	sticker is issued for a period of less than 12 months, the
138	applicant shall pay the appropriate amount of license tax and
139	the applicable fee under the provisions of s. 320.14 in addition
140	to all other fees. Validation stickers issued for vehicles taxed
141	under the provisions of s. 320.08(6)(a), for any company that
142	which owns 250 vehicles or more, or for semitrailers taxed under
143	the provisions of s. 320.08(5)(a), for any company that which
144	owns 50 vehicles or more, may be placed on any vehicle in the
145	fleet so long as the vehicle receiving the validation sticker
146	has the same owner's name and address as the vehicle to which
147	the validation sticker was originally assigned.
148	Section 4.  Section 320.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to
149	read:
150	320.07  Expiration of registration; annual renewal
151	required; penalties.--
152	(1)  The registration of a motor vehicle or mobile home
153	expires shall expire at midnight on the last day of the
154	registration or extended registration period. A vehicle shall
155	not be operated on the roads of this state after expiration of
156	the renewal period unless the registration has been renewed
157	according to law.
158	(2)  Registration shall be renewed semiannually, annually,
159	or biennially, as provided in this subsection, during the
160	applicable renewal period, upon payment of the applicable
161	license tax amounts amount required by s. 320.08, service
162	charges required by s. 320.04, and any additional fees required
163	by law.
164	(a)  However, Any person who owns owning a motor vehicle
165	registered under s. 320.08(4), (6)(b), or (13) may register
166	semiannually as provided in s. 320.0705.
167	(b)  Any person who owns a motor vehicle or mobile home
168	registered under s. 320.08(1), (2), (3), (4)(a) or (b), (6),
169	(7), (8), (9), (10), or (11) may renew the vehicle registration
170	biennially during the applicable renewal period upon payment of
171	the 2-year cumulative total of all applicable license tax
172	amounts required by s. 320.08 and service charges or surcharges
173	required by ss. 320.03, 320.04, 320.0801, 320.08015, 320.0802,
174	320.0804, 320.0805, 320.08046, and 320.08056 and payment of the
175	2-year cumulative total of any additional fees required by law
176	for an annual registration.
177	(3)  The operation of any motor vehicle without having
178	attached thereto a registration license plate and validation
179	stickers, or the use of any mobile home without having attached
180	thereto a mobile home sticker, for the current registration
181	period shall subject the owner thereof, if he or she is present,
182	or, if the owner is not present, the operator thereof to the
183	following penalty provisions:
184	(a)  Any person whose motor vehicle or mobile home
185	registration has been expired for a period of 6 months or less
186	commits a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a
187	nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
188	(b)  Any person whose motor vehicle or mobile home
189	registration has been expired for more than 6 months, shall upon
190	a first offense, is be subject to the penalty provided in s.
191	318.14.
192	(c)  Any person whose motor vehicle or mobile home
193	registration has been expired for more than 6 months, shall upon
194	a second or subsequent offense, commits be guilty of a
195	misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
196	775.082 or s. 775.083.
197	(d)  However, an no operator shall not be charged with a
198	violation of this subsection if the operator can show, pursuant
199	to a valid lease agreement, that the vehicle had been leased for
200	a period of 30 days or less at the time of the offense.
201	(e)  Any servicemember, as defined in s. 250.01, whose
202	mobile home registration has expired while he or she was serving
203	on active duty or state active duty shall not be charged with a
204	violation of this subsection if, at the time of the offense, the
205	servicemember was serving on active duty or state active duty 35
206	miles or more from the mobile home. The servicemember must
207	present to the department either a copy of the official military
208	orders or a written verification signed by the servicemember's
209	commanding officer to receive a waiver of waive charges.
210	(f)  The owner of a leased motor vehicle is not responsible
211	for any penalty specified in this subsection if the motor
212	vehicle is registered in the name of the lessee of the motor
213	vehicle.
214	(4)(a)  In addition to a penalty provided in subsection
215	(3), a delinquent fee based on the following schedule of license
216	taxes shall be imposed on any applicant who fails to renew a
217	registration prior to the end of the month in which renewal
218	registration is due. The delinquent fee shall be applied
219	beginning on the 11th calendar day of the month succeeding the
220	renewal period. The delinquent fee does shall not apply to those
221	vehicles that which have not been required to be registered
222	during the preceding registration period or as provided in s.
223	320.18(2). The delinquent fee shall be imposed as follows:
224	1.  License tax of $5 but not more than $25:  $5 flat.
225	2.  License tax over $25 but not more than $50:  $10 flat.
226	3.  License tax over $50 but not more than $100:  $15 flat.
227	4.  License tax over $100 but not more than $400:  $50
228	flat.
229	5.  License tax over $400 but not more than $600:  $100
230	flat.
231	6.  License tax over $600 and up:  $250 flat.
232	(b)  A person who has been assessed a penalty pursuant to
233	s. 316.545(2)(b) for failure to have a valid vehicle
234	registration certificate is not subject to the delinquent fee
235	authorized by this subsection if such person obtains a valid
236	registration certificate within 10 working days after such
237	penalty was assessed. The official receipt authorized by s.
238	316.545(6) constitutes proof of payment of the penalty
239	authorized in s. 316.545(2)(b).
240	(c)  The owner of a leased motor vehicle is not responsible
241	for any delinquent fee specified in this subsection if the motor
242	vehicle is registered in the name of the lessee of the motor
243	vehicle.
244	(5)  Any servicemember, as defined in s. 250.01, whose
245	motor vehicle or mobile home registration has expired while he
246	or she was serving on active duty or state active duty may,
247	shall be able to renew his or her registration upon return from
248	active duty or state active duty without penalty, if the
249	servicemember served on active duty or state active duty 35
250	miles or more from the servicemember's home of record prior to
251	entering active duty or state active duty. The servicemember
252	must provide to the department either a copy of the official
253	military orders or a written verification signed by the
254	servicemember's commanding officer to receive a waiver of waive
255	delinquent fees.
256	(6)  Delinquent fees imposed under this section are shall
257	not be apportionable under the International Registration Plan.
258	Section 5.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
259	320.071, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
260	320.071  Advance registration renewal; procedures.--
261	(1)(a)  The owner of any motor vehicle or mobile home
262	currently registered in this state may file an application for
263	renewal of registration with the department, or its authorized
264	agent in the county wherein the owner resides, any time during
265	the 3 months preceding the date of expiration of the
266	registration period. The registration period may not exceed 27
267	months.
268	Section 6.  Section 320.203, Florida Statutes, is created
269	to read:
270	320.203  Disposition of biennial license tax moneys.--
271	(1)  Notwithstanding ss. 320.08(1), (2), (3), (4)(a) or
272	(b), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), or (11), 320.08058, and 328.76
273	and pursuant to s. 216.351, after the provisions of s.
274	320.20(1), (2), (3), and (4) are fulfilled, an amount equal to
275	50 percent of revenues collected from the biennial registrations
276	created in s. 320.07 shall be retained in the Motor Vehicle
277	License Clearing Trust Fund, authorized in s. 215.32(2)(b)2.f.,
278	until July 1. After July 1 of the subsequent fiscal year, an
279	amount equal to 50 percent of revenues collected from the
280	biennial registrations created in s. 320.07 shall be distributed
281	according to ss. 320.08(1), (2), (3), (4)(a) or (4)(b), (6),
282	(7), (8), (9), (10), or (11), 320.08058, 328.76, and 320.20(1),
283	(2), (3), and (4).
284	(2)  A tax collector may escrow an amount necessary to
285	annualize revenues collected from the biennial registration
286	service charges, branch charges, or tax collector fees created
287	in s. 320.07 until October 1 of the following fiscal year and
288	then account for that amount as revenue for that fiscal year.
289	Section 7.  Subsections (1), (3), (9), and (12) of section
290	328.72, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
291	328.72  Classification; registration; fees and charges;
292	surcharge; disposition of fees; fines; marine turtle stickers.--
293	(1)  VESSEL REGISTRATION FEE.--Vessels that are required to
294	be registered shall be classified for registration purposes
295	according to the following schedule, and the registration
296	certificate fee shall be in the following amounts:
297	Class A-1--Less than 12 feet in length, and all canoes to
298	which propulsion motors have been attached, regardless of
299	length....$3.50 for each 12-month period registered.
300	Class A-2--12 feet or more and less than 16 feet in
301	length....10.50 for each 12-month period registered.
302	(To county)....2.85 for each 12-month period registered.
303	Class 1--16 feet or more and less than 26 feet in
304	length....18.50 for each 12-month period registered.
305	(To county)....8.85 for each 12-month period registered.
306	Class 2--26 feet or more and less than 40 feet in
307	length....50.50 for each 12-month period registered.
308	(To county)....32.85 for each 12-month period registered.
309	Class 3--40 feet or more and less than 65 feet in
310	length....82.50 for each 12-month period registered.
311	(To county)....56.85 for each 12-month period registered.
312	Class 4--65 feet or more and less than 110 feet in
313	length....98.50 for each 12-month period registered.
314	(To county)....68.85 for each 12-month period registered.
315	Class 5--110 feet or more in length....122.50 for each
316	12-month period registered.
317	(To county)....86.85 for each 12-month period registered.
318	Dealer registration certificate ....16.50 for each 12-month
319	period registered.
320
321	The county portion of the vessel registration fee is derived
322	from recreational vessels only.
323	(3)  ALIEN OR NONRESIDENT LICENSE FEE.--An additional
324	license fee of $50 for each 12-month period registered shall be
325	required of all aliens or nonresidents of the state on all
326	vessels not subject to a specific reciprocal agreement with
327	another state, which vessels are used for commercial purposes
328	and owned in whole or in part by such aliens or nonresidents.
329	Such fee shall be in addition to the vessel registration fee
330	required by this section.
331	(9)  SURCHARGE.--In addition, there is hereby levied and
332	imposed on each vessel registration fee imposed under subsection
333	(1) a surcharge in the amount of $1 for each 12-month period of
334	registration, which shall be collected in the same manner as the
335	fee and deposited into the State Agency Law Enforcement Radio
336	System Trust Fund of the Department of Management Services.
337	(12)  REGISTRATION.--
338	(a)  "Registration period" is a period of 12 months during
339	which a vessel registration is valid.
340	(b)  Any vessel owner who is subject to registration under
341	subparagraph (c)1. is eligible for an extended registration
342	period that begins the first day of the birth month of the owner
343	and ends the last day of the month immediately preceding the
344	owner's birth month 24 months after the beginning of the
345	registration period. If the vessel is registered in the name of
346	more than one person, the birth month of the person whose name
347	first appears on the registration shall be used to determine the
348	extended registration period. For a vessel subject to this
349	extended registration period, the renewal period is the 30-day
350	period ending at midnight on the vessel owner's date of birth.
351	"Renewal period" is a period of 30 days during which renewal of
352	a vessel registration is required, except as otherwise provided
353	by law.
354	(c)  The following registration periods and renewal periods
355	are established:
356	1.  For vessels owned by individuals, the registration
357	period begins the first day of the birth month of the owner and
358	ends the last day of the month immediately preceding the owner's
359	birth month in the succeeding year. If the vessel is registered
360	in the name of more than one person, the birth month of the
361	person whose name first appears on the registration shall be
362	used to determine the registration period. For a vessel subject
363	to this registration period, the renewal period is the 30-day
364	period ending at midnight on the vessel owner's date of birth.
365	2.  For vessels owned by companies, corporations,
366	governmental entities, and registrations issued to dealers and
367	manufacturers, the registration period begins July 1 and ends
368	June 30. The renewal period is the 30-day period beginning June
369	1.
370	Section 8.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2008.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.