1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; establishing a special license plate for honorary consuls;
1.3 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 168.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. [168.1283] HONORARY CONSUL PLATES.
1.6 		Subdivision 1.Issuance of plates. The commissioner must issue honorary consul special 
1.7 	plates or a single motorcycle plate to an applicant who:
1.8 	(1) is a registered owner of a passenger automobile, noncommercial one-ton pickup 
1.9 	truck, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle;
1.10 	(2) is recognized as an honorary consular official appointed by the respective government 
1.11 	to serve in Minnesota, and who provides a letter from the Minnesota Consular Corps;
1.12 	(3) pays a fee in the amount specified for special plates under section 168.12, subdivision 
1.13 	5, for each set of plates, along with any other fees required by this chapter;
1.14 	(4) pays the registration tax as required under section 168.013; and
1.15 	(5) complies with this chapter and rules governing registration of motor vehicles and 
1.16 	licensing of drivers.
1.17 		Subd. 2.Design. In consultation with the Minnesota Consular Corps, the commissioner 
1.18 	must adopt a suitable plate design that includes an emblem and the inscription "Honorary 
1.19 	Consul." The unique registration number for each set of special plates issued must contain 
1.20 	the International Olympic Committee three-letter country code for the represented country 
1.21 	followed by the lowest available sequential number.
2.1 		Subd. 3.Plates transfer. On application to the commissioner and payment of a transfer 
2.2 	fee of $5, special plates issued under this section may be transferred to another motor vehicle 
2.3 	if the subsequent vehicle is:
2.4 	(1) qualified under subdivision 1, clause (1), to bear the special plates; and
2.5 	(2) registered to the same individual to whom the special plates were originally issued.
2.6 		Subd. 4.Plates surrender. A person must return to the commissioner special plates 
2.7 	issued under this section if (1) the plates are no longer in use, or (2) the person is no longer 
2.8 	recognized as an honorary consular official by the appointing government.
2.9 		Subd. 5.Exemption. Special plates issued under this section are not subject to section 
2.10 	168.1293, subdivision 2.

2.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2022.