HF4315

Purpose

• Create a Minnesota grandparent special license plate to raise funds for food shelf programs and support. The plate is issued to eligible vehicle owners and requires a donation that supports the food shelf system.

Main Provisions

• Issuance and eligibility

  • The commissioner must issue Minnesota grandparent special plates (or a single motorcycle plate) to applicants who are the registered owners of certain vehicles, including passenger automobiles, noncommercial one-ton pickups, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles.
  • Applicants must pay the standard plate fee (as specified by related law) and meet any other required fees.
  • Applicants must contribute a minimum of $35 at initial application and annually thereafter to the food shelf support account.
  • Applicants must comply with all applicable registration and driver licensing rules.

• Plate design

  • The plate design must include an image of baby footprints on one side and read “Minnesota proud grandparents.”

• Transferability

  • Special plates may be transferred to another qualifying vehicle if the new vehicle is registered to the same individual who originally received the plates, with a transfer fee of $5.

• Funding and use of donated funds

  • The contributions from subdivision 1, clause 3 (the annual $35 donations) must be deposited into the food shelf support account.
  • The food shelf support account is established in the state’s special revenue fund.
  • Money in the account is annually appropriated first to the Commissioner of Public Safety to administer the account, with the remainder appropriated to the Commissioner of Children, Youth and Families for food shelf programs grants under section 142F.14.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishment of a new specialized license plate (Minnesota grandparent plates) and a dedicated funding mechanism tied to plate donations.
• Allocation of donations to a specific account (food shelf support account) within the special revenue fund, with a defined flow of funds to two state agencies (Public Safety for administration; Children, Youth and Families for grants).
• Provision that issues these plates notwithstanding existing law governing general plate issuance (Notwithstanding section 168.1293).

Administrative and Legal Notes

• The bill references standard plate fees and other applicable fees under existing law (168.12, subdivision 5) and maintains compliance requirements with the chapter and related rules.
• The plate transfer and design provisions are limited to the specified eligible vehicle types and must stay with the same owner who originally received the plates.

Summary of Intent

• To honor grandparents by offering a dedicated license plate.
• To support food shelf programs through mandatory annual donations tied to the plate.
• To create a sustainable funding stream via a new account and specify how funds are distributed to state agencies for administration and grants.

Relevant Terms - Minnesota grandparent plates - grandparent special plates - baby footprints design - Minnesota proud grandparents - food shelf support account - special revenue fund - donations - $35 initial and annual donation - transfer fee $5 - vehicle eligibility: passenger automobile, noncommercial one-ton pickup, motorcycle, recreational vehicle - registration and licensing compliance - Notwithstanding section 168.1293 - 168.12 subdivision 5 - Commissioner of Public Safety - Commissioner of Children, Youth and Families - food shelf programs - grants under section 142F.14