(1) The Department of Transportation shall establish a special registration program and provide for issuance of special registration plates for nonprofit groups meeting the qualifications for tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, for institutions of higher education and for public bodies, as defined in ORS § 174.109.

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(2) Plates issued under this section may be issued to owners of motor vehicles registered under the provisions of ORS § 803.420 (6)(a). In addition, the department may adopt rules for issuance of special registration plates issued pursuant to this section for vehicles not registered under ORS § 803.420 (6)(a).

(3) Plates issued under this section may not contain expressions of political opinion or religious belief.

(4) Rules adopted under this section shall include, but need not be limited to, rules that:

(a) Describe general qualifications to be met by any nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body in order to be eligible for plates issued under this section.

(b) Specify circumstances under which the department may cease to issue plates under this section.

(c) Require each nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body for which plates are issued to file an annual statement on a form designed by the department showing that the group is a nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body and that the nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body otherwise meets the qualifications imposed for eligibility for plates issued under this section. The statement shall include names and addresses of current directors or officers of the nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body or of other persons authorized to speak for the nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body on matters affecting plates issued under this section.

(d) Specify the manner in which a nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body may apply for a special registration plate.

(5) In addition to any other fee authorized by law, for each set of special registration plates issued pursuant to this section, the department shall collect a surcharge of $40 payable when the plates are issued and upon each subsequent renewal of registration of a vehicle bearing the plates. The department shall distribute the moneys from the surcharge as provided in subsection (8) of this section.

(6) The department, in consultation with the nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body requesting the special registration plate, shall develop a unique design for each plate issued under this section. Any design must comply with requirements described under ORS § 803.535.

(7) The department shall determine how many sets of plates shall be manufactured for each plate approved under this section. If the department does not issue 2,000 sets of plates for a particular nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body in any one year, the department shall cease production of those plates.

(8) Each nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body that is found by the department to be eligible for plates issued under this section may designate an account into which the net proceeds of the surcharge collected by the department under subsection (5) of this section are to be deposited. The department shall keep accurate records of the number of plates issued for each nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body that qualifies. After payment of administrative expenses of the department, moneys collected under this section for a nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body shall be deposited by the department into an account specified by that nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body. If any nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body does not specify an account for the moneys collected from the sale of plates issued under this section, the department shall deposit moneys collected for those plates into the Passenger Rail Transportation Account established under ORS § 802.100 to be used as other moneys in the account are used. Deposits under this subsection shall be made at least quarterly. [2015 c.806 § 12; 2017 c.750 § 39L]