2017 Montana Legislature

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HOUSE BILL NO. 196

INTRODUCED BY B. BEARD

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT IMPOSING A FEE ON CERTAIN VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY RESPONSE; ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR DISTRIBUTING REVENUE RAISED BY THE FEE; CREATING A SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT; REQUIRING A REPORT; AMENDING SECTION SECTIONS 15-1-122 AND 61-3-321, MCA; AND PROVIDING A DELAYED EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE."

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Section 1.  Funding of volunteer emergency medical services -- reporting. (1) No later than March 1 of each year, the department shall distribute to eligible rural fire districts, FIRE SERVICE AREAS, and emergency medical services money from the account provided for in [section 2] if the fire district, FIRE SERVICE AREA, or emergency medical service requests funding for purposes authorized by this section.

     (2) (a) A rural fire district OR FIRE SERVICE AREA is eligible for funding under this section if it:

     (i) is organized pursuant to Title 7, chapter 33, part 21 OR 24;

     (ii) is located at least 20 10 miles from an incorporated city or town MUNICIPALITY with a population of more than 500 people as determined by the midyear estimate published by the U.S. census bureau; and

     (iii) operates an emergency medical service staffed primarily by volunteer emergency medical technicians or has a mutual aid agreement with an emergency medical service, as allowed under 7-33-2108, that is staffed primarily by volunteer emergency medical technicians and is located at least 20 10 miles from an incorporated city or town MUNICIPALITY with a population of more than 500 people as determined by the midyear estimate published by the U.S. census bureau.

     (b) An emergency medical service not affiliated with a rural fire district, A FIRE SERVICE AREA, a hospital, or a governmental entity is eligible for funds under this section if it is staffed primarily by volunteer emergency medical technicians.

     (3) The department shall calculate the amount of money raised from the counties in each of the state's trauma regions, as defined in 50-6-401, and shall disburse the amount DISTRIBUTE MONEY TRANSFERRED INTO THE SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT equally among the fire districts, FIRE SERVICE AREAS, and emergency medical services in each region that have requested funds and that meet the eligibility requirements of subsection (2).

     (4) If a fire district OR FIRE SERVICE AREA has a mutual aid agreement with an emergency medical service meeting the requirements of subsection (2), the department shall consider the fire district OR THE FIRE SERVICE AREA and the emergency medical service to be separate entities when calculating disbursements under this section.

     (5) Funds disbursed under this section may be used only for operating, training, or equipment costs.

     (6) The department shall require entities receiving funds under this section to report on the use of the funds and to return any funds that are unencumbered at the end of the calendar year. By March 1, the department shall reallocate the returned funds equally among other eligible entities that received funds during the previous calendar year.

     (7) The department shall report to the children, families, health, and human services interim committee by August 15 of each even-numbered year on the number of fire districts, FIRE SERVICE AREAS, and emergency medical services receiving funds pursuant to this section, the purposes for which the funds were used, and the amount of money returned to the department each year.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Section 2.  Special revenue account for volunteer emergency medical services. (1) There is an account in the state special revenue fund provided for in 17-2-102 to the credit of the department of public health and human services to support volunteer emergency medical services as provided in [section 1].

     (2) Money collected from the registration fee provided for in 61-3-321(21) must be deposited in the account. The department of justice shall provide a report to the department indicating the amount of money the fee raised in each county.

     (2) EACH FISCAL YEAR, THE AMOUNT PROVIDED IN 15-1-122(3)(F) IS TRANSFERRED INTO THE ACCOUNT FROM THE STATE GENERAL FUND.

     (3) Money from the account may be appropriated to the department only for distribution as provided in [section 1] and for use as provided in subsection (4).

     (4) The account must be invested as provided by law. Interest and income accruing on the account must be credited to the account and appropriated to the department to pay for the costs of carrying out the purposes of [section 1].

 

     SECTION 3.  SECTION 15-1-122, MCA, IS AMENDED TO READ:

     "15-1-122.  (Bracketed language effective July 1, 2021) Fund transfers. (1) There is transferred from the state general fund to the adoption services account, provided for in 42-2-105, a base amount of $59,209, and the amount of the transfer must be increased by 10% in each succeeding fiscal year.

     (2)  For fiscal years 2016 through 2019, there is transferred $1.275 million on an annual basis from the state general fund to the research and commercialization state special revenue account provided for in 90-3-1002.

     (3)  For each fiscal year, there is transferred from the state general fund to the accounts, entities, or recipients indicated the following amounts:

     (a)  to the motor vehicle recycling and disposal program provided for in Title 75, chapter 10, part 5, 1.48% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund in each fiscal year. The amount of 9.48% of the allocation in each fiscal year must be used for the purpose of reimbursing the hired removal of abandoned vehicles. Any portion of the allocation not used for abandoned vehicle removal reimbursement must be used as provided in 75-10-532.

     (b)  to the noxious weed state special revenue account provided for in 80-7-816, 1.50% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund in each fiscal year;

     (c)  to the department of fish, wildlife, and parks:

     (i)  0.46% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund, with the applicable percentage to be:

     (A)  used to:

     (I)  acquire and maintain pumpout equipment and other boat facilities, 4.8% in each fiscal year;

     (II) administer and enforce the provisions of Title 23, chapter 2, part 5, 19.1% in each fiscal year;

     (III) enforce the provisions of 23-2-804, 11.1% in each fiscal year; and

     (IV) develop and implement a comprehensive program and to plan appropriate off-highway vehicle recreational use, 16.7% in each fiscal year; and

     (B)  deposited in the state special revenue fund established in 23-1-105 in an amount equal to 48.3% in each fiscal year;

     (ii) 0.10% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund in each fiscal year, with 50% of the amount to be used for enforcing the purposes of Title 23, chapter 2, part 6, and 50% of the amount designated for use in the development, maintenance, and operation of snowmobile facilities; and

     (iii) 0.16% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund in each fiscal year to be deposited in the motorboat account to be used as provided in 23-2-533;

     (d)  0.81% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund in each fiscal year, with 24.55% to be deposited in the state veterans' cemetery account provided for in 10-2-603 and with 75.45% to be deposited in the veterans' services account provided for in 10-2-112(1); and

     (e)  to the search and rescue account provided for in 10-3-801, 0.04% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund in each fiscal year;

     (f) to the volunteer emergency medical services special revenue account provided for in [section 2], 1.6% of the motor vehicle revenue deposited into the state general fund in each fiscal year.

     (4)  The amount of $200,000 is transferred from the state general fund to the livestock loss [reduction and] mitigation restricted state special revenue account provided for in 81-1-112 in each fiscal year.

     (5)  For the purposes of this section, "motor vehicle revenue deposited in the state general fund" means revenue received from:

     (a)  fees for issuing a motor vehicle title paid pursuant to 61-3-203;

     (b)  fees, fees in lieu of taxes, and taxes for vehicles, vessels, and snowmobiles registered or reregistered pursuant to 61-3-321 and 61-3-562;

     (c)  GVW fees for vehicles registered for licensing pursuant to Title 61, chapter 3, part 3; and

     (d)  all money collected pursuant to 15-1-504(3).

     (6)  Except as provided in subsection (2), the amounts transferred from the general fund to the designated recipient must be appropriated as state special revenue in the general appropriations act for the designated purposes. (Bracketed language in subsection (4) effective July 1, 2021--sec. 8, Ch. 349, L. 2015.)"

 

     Section 4.  Section 61-3-321, MCA, is amended to read:

     "61-3-321.  Registration fees of vehicles and vessels -- certain vehicles exempt from registration fees -- disposition of fees. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, registration fees must be paid upon registration or, if applicable, renewal of registration of motor vehicles, snowmobiles, watercraft, trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers as provided in subsections (2) through (20).

     (2)  Unless a light vehicle is permanently registered under 61-3-562, the annual registration fee for light vehicles, trucks and buses under 1 ton, and logging trucks less than 1 ton is as follows:

     (a)  if the vehicle is 4 or less years old, $217 $219;

     (b)  if the vehicle is 5 through 10 years old, $87 $89; and

     (c)  if the vehicle is 11 or more years old, $28 $30.

     (3)  Except as provided in subsection (15), the one-time registration fee based on the declared weight of a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is as follows:

     (a)  if the declared weight is less than 6,000 pounds, $61.25; or

     (b)  if the declared weight is 6,000 pounds or more, $148.25.

     (4)  Except as provided in subsection (15), the one-time registration fee for motor vehicles owned and operated solely as collector's items pursuant to 61-3-411, based on the weight of the vehicle, is as follows:

     (a)  2,850 pounds and over, $10; and

     (b)  under 2,850 pounds, $5.

     (5)  Except as provided in subsection (15), the one-time registration fee for off-highway vehicles other than a quadricycle or motorcycle is $61.25.

     (6)  The annual registration fee for heavy trucks, buses, and logging trucks in excess of 1 ton is $22.75 $24.75.

     (7)  (a) The annual registration fee for a motor home, based on the age of the motor home, is as follows:

     (i)  less than 2 years old, $282.50 $284.50;

     (ii) 2 years old and less than 5 years old, $224.25 $226.25;

     (iii) 5 years old and less than 8 years old, $132.50 $134.50; and

     (iv) 8 years old and older, $97.50 $99.50.

     (b)  The owner of a motor home that is 11 years old or older and that is subject to the registration fee under this section may permanently register the motor home upon payment of:

     (i)  a one-time registration fee of $237.50 $239.50;

     (ii) unless a new set of license plates is being issued, an insurance verification fee of $5, which must be deposited in the account established under 61-6-158;

     (iii) if applicable, five times the renewal fees for personalized license plates under 61-3-406; and

     (iv) if applicable, the donation fee for a generic specialty license plate under 61-3-480 or a collegiate license plate under 61-3-465.

     (8)  (a) Except as provided in subsection (15), the one-time registration fee for motorcycles and quadricycles registered for use on public highways is $53.25, and the one-time registration fee for motorcycles and quadricycles registered for both off-road use and for use on the public highways is $114.50.

     (b)  An additional fee of $16 must be collected for the registration of each motorcycle or quadricycle as a safety fee, which must be deposited in the state motorcycle safety account provided for in 20-25-1002.

     (9)  Except as provided in subsection (15), the one-time registration fee for travel trailers, based on the length of the travel trailer, is as follows:

     (a)  under 16 feet in length, $72; and

     (b)  16 feet in length or longer, $152.

     (10) Except as provided in subsection (15), the one-time registration fee for a motorboat, sailboat, personal watercraft, or motorized pontoon required to be numbered under 23-2-512 is as follows:

     (a)  for a personal watercraft or a motorboat, sailboat, or motorized pontoon less than 16 feet in length, $65.50;

     (b)  for a motorboat, sailboat, or motorized pontoon at least 16 feet in length but less than 19 feet in length, $125.50; and

     (c)  for a motorboat, sailboat, or motorized pontoon 19 feet in length or longer, $295.50.

     (11) (a) Except as provided in subsections (11)(b) and (15), the one-time registration fee for a snowmobile is $60.50.

     (b)  (i) A snowmobile that is licensed by a Montana business and is owned exclusively for the purpose of daily rental to customers is assessed:

     (A)  a fee of $40.50 in the first year of registration; and

     (B)  if the business reregisters the snowmobile for a second year, a fee of $20.

     (ii) If the business reregisters the snowmobile for a third year, the snowmobile must be permanently registered and the business is assessed the registration fee imposed in subsection (11)(a).

     (12) (a) The one-time registration fee for a low-speed electric vehicle is $25.

     (b)  The one-time registration fee for a golf cart that is owned by a person who has or is applying for a low-speed restricted driver's license is $25.

     (c)  The one-time registration fee for golf carts authorized to operate on certain public streets and highways pursuant to 61-8-391 is $25. Upon receipt of the fee, the department shall issue the owner a decal, which must be displayed visibly on the golf cart.

     (13) (a) Except as provided in subsection (13)(b), a fee of $10 must be collected when a new set of standard license plates, a new single standard license plate, or a replacement set of special license plates required under 61-3-332 is issued. The $10 fee imposed under this subsection does not apply when previously issued license plates are transferred under 61-3-335. All registration fees imposed under this section must be paid if the vehicle to which the plates are transferred is not currently registered.

     (b)  An additional fee of $15 must be collected if a vehicle owner elects to keep the same license plate number from license plates issued before January 1, 2010, when replacement of those plates is required under 61-3-332(3).

     (c)  The fees imposed in this subsection (13) must be deposited in the account established under 61-6-158, except that $2 of the fee imposed in subsection (13)(a) must be deposited in the state general fund.

     (14) The provisions of this part with respect to the payment of registration fees do not apply to and are not binding upon motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, snowmobiles, watercraft, or tractors owned or controlled by the United States of America or any state, county, city, or special district, as defined in 18-8-202, or to a vehicle or vessel that meets the description of property exempt from taxation under 15-6-201(1)(a), (1)(d), (1)(e), (1)(g), (1)(h), (1)(i), (1)(k), (1)(l), (1)(n), or (1)(o), 15-6-203, or 15-6-215, except as provided in 61-3-520.

     (15) Whenever ownership of a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, off-highway vehicle, motorcycle, quadricycle, travel trailer, motor home, motorboat, sailboat, personal watercraft, motorized pontoon, snowmobile, motor vehicle owned and operated solely as a collector's item pursuant to 61-3-411, or low-speed electric vehicle is transferred, the new owner shall title and register the vehicle or vessel as required by this chapter and pay the fees imposed under this section.

     (16) A person eligible for a waiver under 61-3-460 is exempt from the fees required under this section.

     (17) Except as otherwise provided in this section, revenue collected under this section must be deposited in the state general fund.

     (18) The fees imposed by subsections (2) through (12) are not required to be paid by a dealer for the enumerated vehicles or vessels that constitute inventory of the dealership.

     (19) (a) Unless a person exercises the option in either subsection (19)(b) or (19)(c), an additional fee of $6 must be collected for each light vehicle registered under this part. This fee must be accounted for and transmitted separately from the registration fee. The fee must be deposited in an account in the state special revenue fund to be used for state parks, for fishing access sites, and for the operation of state-owned facilities. Of the $6 fee, the department of fish, wildlife, and parks shall use $5.37 for state parks, 25 cents for fishing access sites, and 38 cents for the operation of state-owned facilities at Virginia City and Nevada City.

     (b)  A person who registers a light vehicle may, at the time of annual registration, certify that the person does not intend to use the vehicle to visit state parks and fishing access sites and may make a written election not to pay the additional $6 fee provided for in subsection (19)(a). If a written election is made, the fee may not be collected.

     (c)  (i) A person who registers one or more light vehicles may, at the time of annual registration, certify that the person does not intend to use any of the vehicles to visit state parks and fishing access sites and may make a written election not to pay the additional $6 fee provided for in subsection (19)(a). If a written election is made, the fee may not be collected at any subsequent annual registration unless the person makes the written election to pay the additional fee on one or more of the light vehicles.

     (ii) The written election not to pay the additional fee on a light vehicle expires if the vehicle is registered to a different person.

     (20) For each light vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, heavy truck, motor home, motorcycle, quadricycle, and travel trailer subject to a registration fee under this section, an additional fee of $5 must be collected and forwarded to the state for deposit in the account established in 44-1-504.

     (21) For each light vehicle, motor home, bus, or heavy truck subject to a registration fee under this section, an additional fee of $2 must be collected and forwarded to the state for deposit in the account established in [section 2].

     (21)(22)(21) This section does not apply to a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer that is governed by 61-3-721."

 

     NEW SECTION.  Section 5.  Codification instruction. [Sections 1 and 2] are intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 50, chapter 6, part 3, and the provisions of Title 50, chapter 6, part 3, apply to [sections 1 and 2].

 

     NEW SECTION.  Section 6.  Effective date. [This act] is effective January 1, 2018.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Section 7.  Termination. (1) [This act] terminates December 31, 2024.

     (2) (a) Any money unencumbered by rural fire districts, FIRE SERVICE AREAS, or emergency medical services on December 31, 2024, must be returned to the department by January 15, 2025, for deposit in the special revenue account provided for in [section 2].

     (b) Money from the special revenue account must be transferred by February 1, 2025, to the department of transportation for the emergency medical service providers grant program provided for in Title 61, chapter 2, part 5.

- END -

 


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