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HB 579 - Tag agents; modernization and technology; funding

Teper, Doug (61st)	Cummings, Bill (27th)

Status Summary	HC:	MotV	SC:		FR:	02/11/99	LA:	02/12/99	H - Read 2nd Time

First Reader Summary

A BILL to amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles, so as to provide funding to tag agents for modernization and technology; to provide for accounts, refunds, and reports; and for other purposes.

Code Sections - 40-3-39

HB 579                                           LC 25 1102ER 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                        A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 
                               AN ACT 
 
 
  1- 1  To amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, 
  1- 2  relating to motor vehicles, so as to provide funding to tag 
  1- 3  agents for modernization and technology; to provide for 
  1- 4  accounts, refunds, and reports; to provide for an effective 
  1- 5  date; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting 
  1- 6  laws; and for other purposes. 
 
  1- 7       BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: 
 
  1- 8                           SECTION 1. 
 
  1- 9  Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating 
  1-10  to motor vehicles, is amended by adding at the end of Code 
  1-11  Section 40-2-33, relating to issuance of license plates, 
  1-12  payment and disposition of fees, and compensation of tag 
  1-13  agents, a new subsection to read as follows: 
 
  1-14    "(d) In addition to the commission authorized under 
  1-15    subsection (b) of this Code section, the tag agent shall 
  1-16    be permitted to retain a fee in the amount of 50› per 
  1-17    license plate or revalidation decal issued during any 
  1-18    calendar year, with each fee to be dedicated exclusively 
  1-19    to the acquisition and maintenance of modern business 
  1-20    tools and technologies.  Such fees shall provide funding 
  1-21    to build, improve, and enhance operational efficiencies 
  1-22    through the computerization of records and automation of 
  1-23    work processes within the tag agent's office.  Such fees 
  1-24    shall be placed in a special bank account of the tag agent 
  1-25    entitled 'Tag Agent's Modernization and Technology 
  1-26    Account,' with moneys to be spent only upon the written 
  1-27    approval of the state revenue commissioner or his or her 
  1-28    designated appointee.  Any such fees retained but not 
  1-29    expended within two years from the date collected shall be 
  1-30    turned over and remitted to the state revenue commissioner 
  1-31    for deposit to the state treasury.  It shall be the duty 
  1-32    of the tag agent to maintain a complete and accurate 
  1-33    accounting of such fees retained and to provide a 
  1-34    quarterly report to the state revenue commissioner of 
  1-35    deposits, expenditures, withdrawals, balances, and other 
 
 
                                 -1- 
 
 
 
  2- 1    such account activities.  The fees authorized by 
  2- 2    subsection (b) of this Code section and this subsection 
  2- 3    shall come from the annual license fee imposed under 
  2- 4    Chapter 10 of Title 48." 
 
  2- 5                           SECTION 2. 
 
  2- 6  Said title is further amended by striking Code Section 
  2- 7  40-3-39, relating to compensation of tag agents and mailing 
  2- 8  of applications for certificates of title to the Department 
  2- 9  of Revenue, and inserting in its place the following: 
 
  2-10    "40-3-39. 
 
  2-11    (a) The commissioner is authorized to utilize the services 
  2-12    of persons appointed as county tag agents under Code 
  2-13    Section 40-2-23 and to allow such county tag agents to 
  2-14    retain a fee therefor not in excess of 50› for each 
  2-15    application handled, such fee to be disposed of as other 
  2-16    tag fees retained by him or her as tag agent are disposed 
  2-17    of in his or her county.  Any applicant for a title shall 
  2-18    have the right to mail the application directly to the 
  2-19    Department of Revenue. 
 
  2-20    (b) In addition to the fee authorized under subsection (a) 
  2-21    of this Code section, the tag agent shall be permitted to 
  2-22    retain a fee in the amount of 50› per title application 
  2-23    processed, with each fee to be dedicated exclusively to 
  2-24    the acquisition and maintenance of modern business tools 
  2-25    and automated technologies.  Such fees shall provide 
  2-26    funding to build, improve, and enhance operational 
  2-27    efficiencies through the computerization of records and 
  2-28    automation of work processes within the tag agent's 
  2-29    office.  Such fees shall be placed in a special bank 
  2-30    account of the tag agent entitled 'Tag Agent's 
  2-31    Modernization and Technology Account,' with moneys to be 
  2-32    spent only upon the written approval of the state revenue 
  2-33    commissioner or his or her designated appointee.  Any such 
  2-34    fees retained but not expended within two years from the 
  2-35    date collected shall be turned over and remitted to the 
  2-36    state revenue commissioner for deposit to the state 
  2-37    treasury.  It shall be the duty of the tag agent to 
  2-38    maintain a complete and accurate accounting of such fees 
  2-39    retained and to provide a quarterly report to the state 
  2-40    revenue commissioner of deposits, expenditures, 
  2-41    withdrawals, balances, and other such account activities. 
  2-42    The fees imposed by this Code section shall come from the 
  2-43    fees imposed under Code Section 40-3-38." 
 
 
 
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  3- 1                           SECTION 3. 
 
  3- 2  This Act shall become effective on July 1, 1999, and shall 
  3- 3  be applicable to all license plates or revalidation decals 
  3- 4  issued and all title applications processed beginning on or 
  3- 5  after July 1, 1999. 
 
  3- 6                           SECTION 4. 
 
  3- 7  All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are 
  3- 8  repealed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                 -3-