SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 101

(By Senators Unger, Jenkins, Fanning, Oliverio, White and Facemyer)

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the proliferation of special license plates in and for the State of West Virginia.

Whereas, There are over 97 different types of license plates for passenger vehicles in West Virginia; and
Whereas, Many of these plates are necessary to express the state's appreciation and recognition for military or other types of special service to the citizens of our state and nation; and
Whereas, The primary purpose of a license plate is to identify the ownership of a vehicle for law-enforcement and tax-generating purposes; and
Whereas, There are many bills introduced each year to authorize additional special license plates; and
Whereas, A few of these special license plate programs combine to generate in excess of $1 million in additional revenue each year; and
Whereas, Many of these license plates currently have fewer than fifty active registrants; and
Whereas, In the last two years, only two of the ten organizations authorized by this Legislature to have a special license plate have generated sufficient interest among their own members to obtain at least 100 interested applicants; and
Whereas, Some law-enforcement agencies have expressed concern about the difficulties in identifying and differentiating between the special license plates ; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the proliferation of special license plates in and for the State of West Virginia ; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance's study include issuing special plates to members of Lions International; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance's study include issuing plates to municipal law-enforcement departments; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance's study include issuing a plate recognizing, supporting and honoring organ and tissue donors; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance's study include issuing a plate honoring coal miners; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance's study include issuing a plate for present and former Boy Scouts who achieved Eagle Scout; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance's study include issuing plates for a sporting team or franchise bearing the sporting team or franchise's design; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance's study include issuing plates for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance's study include issuing plates for next of kin of those individuals in the armed forces killed in combat and for armed services retirees; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance's study include issuing plates for other charitable organizations, sports teams, civic organizations, university and educational institutions and trade associations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2006, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.