Click Here > Tennessee Senate Bill Vote #1588 Passed April 24, 2018 Amateur Radio Emergency License Plates Related
Post date: May 31, 2018 5:35:19 AM
I'm not sure exactly what all has been done here. According to the video it suggest that it enables all FCC licensed HAMS to be able to purchase an Emergency tag for their vehicle, waiving the specialized fee. As I understood it was already Federal Law all you needed was an active FCC issued Amateur Radio License. The local County Clerk had some additional hoops that had to be jumped through to be eligible for waiver of the specialized fee. I was required to have FCC License, ARES identification, ARRL membership id for the fee waiver. I'd gladly pay the extra $20 not to have to go thru that hassle. I didn't have all documentation as I was sure all I needed was my FCC issued Ham Radio License. So it took lots of time and another trip to renew my registration. It appears now that specialized tags with your call are no longer available in Tennessee.
73
ki4ndn
Some links to my research below:
https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-55/chapter-4/part-2/55-4-229/
http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB1588&GA=110
Fiscal Summary
Decrease State Revenue - $28,500/Highway Fund $1,500/General Fund
Bill Summary <click here for info>
This bill makes any person licensed as an amateur radio operator eligible to purchase an amateur radio special license plate, rather than allowing only certain persons to purchase such plates.
Under present law, an owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state and who holds an official amateur radio station license issued by the federal communications commission may apply to the department of revenue, through the county clerk, for issuance of an amateur radio license plate. The issuance of such special purpose license plate is made upon payment of the regular registration fee for plates, and the required additional $25.00 fee for such special plate, if applicable. To be eligible for the plate without paying the additional $25.00 fee, the registrant must furnish proof to the commissioner of revenue, through the county clerk, that the registrant:
(1) Is a member of a squad or group that actively participates in needed services during any and all emergencies, as determined by the civil defense, rescue squads or other organizations that are engaged in volunteer emergency services; or
(2) Is a member of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) or has credentials approved by the county emergency management director.
This bill deletes the requirements in (2) above, and specifies instead that for a registrant to be eligible for an amateur radio license plate without paying the additional $25.00 fee, the registrant must provide proof of:
(1) Credentials approved by the county emergency management director; or
(2) A class license as an amateur radio operator issued by the federal communications commission.
ON APRIL 24, 2018, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 1649 FOR HOUSE BILL 1599, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #2, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1649, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #2 specifies that the department of economic and community development will administer the qualified work-based learning student grant program and removes the provisions for a program operator.
FiscalNote for SB1588/HB1558 filed under SB1588 PDF
TENNESSEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
FISCAL NOTE
SB 1588 - HB 1558
February 11, 2018
SUMMARY OF BILL: Authorizes an amateur radio motor vehicle license registrant
that holds an amateur radio operator class license issued by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) to purchase an amateur radio special license plate without the imposition of
the additional annual fee of $25.
ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT:
Decrease State Revenue - $28,500/Highway Fund
$1,500/General Fund
Assumptions:
Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-203(a)(4)(A), persons applying for an amateur
radio motor vehicle license are required to pay an annual fee of $25 in addition to all
other regular fees, unless such persons meet the qualifications established in Tenn. Code
Ann. § 55-4-229(e).
Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-4-229(e) establishes that the following persons are
exempt from paying the additional $25 fee: members of the Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES); registrants with credentials approved by the county emergency
management director; and members of a squad or group that actively participates in
needed services during any and all emergencies as determined by the civil defense,
rescue squads or other organizations that are engaged in volunteer emergency services.
This legislation would exempt the $25 fee from all individuals holding a class license as
an amateur radio operator by the FCC, rather than just those that are members of the
ARES.
The DOR reports that at least 3,878 motor vehicles are currently registered with an
amateur radio license specialty plate, of which approximately 1,200 individuals pay the
additional $25 fee each year.
It is assumed that all 1,200 of such individuals will become exempt from paying the fee
upon passage of this legislation.
The recurring decrease in state revenue is estimated to be $30,000 (1,200 x $25).
Approximately 95 percent of motor vehicle registration fees is allocated to the Highway
Fund; the remaining 5 percent is allocated to the General Fund.
SB 1588 - HB 1558 The recurring decrease in revenue to the Highway Fund is estimated to be $28,500
($30,000 x 95%); the recurring decrease in revenue to the General Fund is estimated to
be $1,500 ($30,000 x 5%).
CERTIFICATION:
The information contained herein is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
Krista M. Lee, Executive Director
/tdb
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