HF4642

Purpose

• Create 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline special license plates to raise awareness and support for suicide prevention and crisis services, and to fund safety tools related to preventing harm.

Who can get the plates

• Issued to registered owners of passenger automobiles, noncommercial one-ton pickup trucks, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles.
• Applicants must pay the required plate fee, the regular registration tax, and contribute $25 to the lethal means safety account.
• Applicants must comply with all registration and licensing rules.

Plate design

• The plates must include the 988 Lifeline logo.
• The design is created in consultation with the commissioner of health and suicide awareness organizations.

Plate transfer

• The plates can be transferred to another qualifying vehicle if the new vehicle is owned by the same person and qualifies for the special plates, for a $5 transfer fee.

Exemption

• Plates issued under this section are not subject to a specific existing restriction (a specified portion of current law).

How the money is used (funding)

• The $25 contribution from each plate goes into the lethal means safety account, which is part of the state’s special revenue fund.
• Money in the account is annually appropriated to the commissioner for two purposes:
  • First, the annual cost of administering the account.
  • The remainder funds the purchase of lethal means safety tools and a statewide gun storage mapping initiative.

Lethal means safety tools and distribution

• Tools may include, but are not limited to, cable gun locks, trigger locks, and gun safes.
• These tools will be purchased and then distributed to Minnesota-registered nonprofit organizations, including groups that focus on suicide awareness, after they apply to the commissioner.
• Organizations that receive tools must distribute them to the general public after successful application.
• No organization may charge the public a fee for these lethally-aimed safety tools.

Significance relative to existing law

• Establishes a new funding stream and program (lethal means safety tools and gun storage mapping) linked to a dedicated license plate.
• Creates a dedicated mechanism to fund tool distribution and public safety initiatives tied to suicide prevention.
• Adds a new transfer and design requirement for a public awareness license plate, with a specified donation component.

Summary of main changes

• Introduction of 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline special license plates with a $25 donation to a new lethal means safety account.
• Creation of a funding pipeline for lethal means safety tools and a statewide gun storage mapping project.
• Requirements around plate design, transfer, and nonprofit distribution of safety tools to the public.

Relevant Terms - 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - special license plates - lethal means safety account - lethal means safety tools (cable gun locks, trigger locks, gun safes) - statewide gun storage mapping initiative - nonprofit organizations (gun safety and suicide awareness groups) - noncommercial one-ton pickup truck - recreational vehicle - motorcycle - 988 Lifeline logo - registration tax - fees (section 168.12, subdivision 5)