HF1294

This bill proposes amendments to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 168.33, subdivision 7, concerning filing fee allocations for vehicle transactions. The key provisions of the bill include:

1. Filing Fees:

   • A $8 fee is imposed on vehicle registration renewals (except for prorated transactions).
   • A $12 fee is imposed on all other vehicle transactions (including motor carrier fuel licenses and prorated transactions).

2. No-Fee Transactions:

   • No filing fee will be charged for:
     • Documents returned for refunds or corrections of errors made by the Department of Public Safety, a dealer, or a deputy registrar.
     • Permanent surrender of a vehicle title.

3. Fee Allocation:

   • The collected fees are allocated as follows:
     • From registration renewal fees ($8):
     • $6.50 to the Driver and Vehicle Services Operating Account.
     • $1.50 to the Driver and Vehicle Services Technology Account.
     • From other transaction fees ($12):
     • $3.50 to the General Fund.
     • $7 to the Driver and Vehicle Services Operating Account.
     • $1.50 to the Driver and Vehicle Services Technology Account.

4. Electronic Payments:

   • Customers can pay filing fees using credit or debit cards.
   • Deputy registrars may charge a surcharge to cover the processing cost of card transactions.

5. Surcharge for Deputy Registrars:

   • A surcharge on transactions is imposed, and the funds must either be:
     • Deposited in the treasury of the jurisdiction where the deputy registrar operates, or
     • Retained by the deputy registrar (if they are not a public official).

6. Reimbursement for No-Fee Transactions:

   • Quarterly, the Commissioner of Public Safety must calculate and distribute reimbursements to deputy registrars for transactions where no filing fees were collected.
   • The reimbursement is based on:
     • $9 per no-fee vehicle registration renewal.
     • $13 per all other no-fee vehicle transactions.
   • These funds are appropriated from the Driver and Vehicle Services Operating Account in the special revenue fund.

This bill seeks to ensure proper compensation to deputy registrars for no-fee transactions while maintaining funding allocations for driver and vehicle services.