SECOND REGULAR SESSION
92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES DOUGHERTY (Sponsor), LeVOTA, YOUNG,
WHORTON AND MEINERS (Co-sponsors).Read 1st time February 3, 2004, and copies ordered printed.
STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 301.147, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to biennial license plates.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 301.147, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 301.147, to read as follows:
301.147. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 301.020 to the contrary, beginning July 1, 2000, the director of revenue may provide owners of motor vehicles, other than commercial motor vehicles licensed in excess of twelve thousand pounds gross weight, the option of biennially registering motor vehicles. Any vehicle manufactured as an even-numbered model year vehicle shall be renewed each even-numbered calendar year and any such vehicle manufactured as an odd-numbered model year vehicle shall be renewed each odd-numbered calendar year, subject to the following requirements:
(1) The fee collected at the time of biennial registration shall include the annual registration fee plus a pro rata amount for the additional twelve months of the biennial registration;
(2) Presentation of all documentation otherwise required by law for vehicle registration including, but not limited to, a personal property tax receipt or certified statement for the preceding year that no such taxes were due as set forth in section 301.025, proof of a motor vehicle safety inspection and any applicable emission inspection conducted within sixty days prior to the date of application and proof of insurance as required by section 303.026, RSMo.
2. The director of revenue may prescribe rules and regulations for the effective administration of this section. The director is authorized to adopt those rules that are reasonable and necessary to accomplish the limited duties specifically delegated within this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, RSMo, that is promulgated pursuant to the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it has been promulgated pursuant to the provisions of chapter 536, RSMo. This section and chapter 536, RSMo, are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo, to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after July 1, 2000, shall be invalid and void.
3. The director of revenue shall have the authority to stagger the registration period of motor vehicles other than commercial motor vehicles licensed in excess of twelve thousand pounds gross weight. [Once the owner of a motor vehicle chooses the option of biennial registration, such registration must be maintained for the full twenty-four month period.]
4. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, when the owner of a biennially registered motor vehicle returns the license plates to the director of revenue as provided in section 301.120 or no longer desires to maintain registration on such vehicle for a reason other than for a license suspension or revocation, the owner shall receive a refund or credit equivalent to a pro rata amount of a one-year registration fee, provided one year is remaining before expiration of the license plates. If less than a year is remaining, such owner is not entitled to any refund or credit.