1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to transportation; modifying provisions 
  1.3             relating to special number plates for collector 
  1.4             aircraft; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 
  1.5             360.531, subdivision 3; and 360.55, subdivision 4. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 360.531, 
  1.8   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 3.  [FIRST YEAR OF LIFE.] "First year of life" means 
  1.10  the first year the aircraft received a type certificate or 
  1.11  supplemental type certificate (STC) from the Federal Aeronautics 
  1.12  Administration or the year of model designation of the aircraft, 
  1.13  or, if there be no model designation it shall mean the year of 
  1.14  manufacture, whichever is earlier.  If no certificate was 
  1.15  issued, the term means the year the aircraft was manufactured.  
  1.16     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 360.55, 
  1.17  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  1.18     Subd. 4.  [COLLECTOR'S AIRCRAFT; PIONEER LICENSE SPECIAL 
  1.19  PLATES.] (a) For purposes of this subdivision: 
  1.20     (1) "antique aircraft" means an aircraft constructed by the 
  1.21  original manufacturer, or its licensee, on or before December 
  1.22  31, 1945, with the exception of certain pre-World War II 
  1.23  aircraft models that had only a small post-war production, such 
  1.24  as Beechcraft Staggerwing, Fairchild 24, and Monocoupe; and 
  1.25     (2) "classic aircraft" means an aircraft constructed by the 
  2.1   original manufacturer, or its licensee, on or after January 1, 
  2.2   1946, through December 31, 1955, with the exception of certain 
  2.3   civilian aircraft manufactured in the last four months of 1945, 
  2.4   which were actually 1946 models, such as Aeronca, Taylorcraft, 
  2.5   and Piper. 
  2.6      Any (b) If an antique or classic aircraft built by the 
  2.7   original manufacturer prior to December 31, 1939, has a first 
  2.8   year of life of at least 50 years before the date of 
  2.9   registration or reregistration and is owned and operated solely 
  2.10  as a collector's item shall be listed, its owner may list it for 
  2.11  taxation and registration as follows:  A sworn affidavit shall 
  2.12  be executed stating the name and address of the owner, the name 
  2.13  and address of the person from whom purchased, the make of the 
  2.14  aircraft, year and model number of the aircraft, the federal 
  2.15  aircraft registration number, the manufacturer's identification 
  2.16  number and that the aircraft is owned and operated solely as a 
  2.17  collector's item and not for general transportation or 
  2.18  commercial operations purposes.  The affidavit shall be filed 
  2.19  with the commissioner along with a fee of $25.  
  2.20     (c) Upon satisfaction that the affidavit is true and 
  2.21  correct, the commissioner shall issue to the applicant special 
  2.22  number plates, decalcomania labels or stamps bearing the 
  2.23  inscription "Pioneer Classic" or "Antique," "Minnesota" and the 
  2.24  registration number but no date.  The special number plates, 
  2.25  decalcomania labels or stamps are valid without renewal as long 
  2.26  as the owner operates the aircraft solely as a collector's item. 
  2.27     (d) Should such an antique or classic aircraft be operated 
  2.28  other than as a collector's item, the pioneer special number 
  2.29  plates, decalcomania labels or stamps shall be void and removed, 
  2.30  and the owner shall list the aircraft for taxation and 
  2.31  registration in accordance with the other provisions of sections 
  2.32  360.511 to 360.67.  
  2.33     (e) Upon the sale of such an antique or classic aircraft, 
  2.34  the new owner must list the aircraft for taxation and 
  2.35  registration in accordance with the provisions of this 
  2.36  subdivision, (including the payment of a $25 fee) to obtain 
  3.1   new special plates or payment of a $5 fee to retain and transfer 
  3.2   the existing special plates to the name of the new owner, or the 
  3.3   other provisions of sections 360.511 to 360.67, whichever is 
  3.4   applicable. 
  3.5      (f) In the event of defacement, loss or destruction of the 
  3.6   special number plates, decalcomania labels or stamps, and upon 
  3.7   receiving and filing a sworn affidavit of the aircraft owner 
  3.8   setting forth the circumstances, together with any defaced 
  3.9   plates, labels or stamps and a fee of $5, the commissioner shall 
  3.10  issue replacement plates, labels or stamps.  The commissioner 
  3.11  shall note on the records the issue of replacement number and 
  3.12  shall proceed to cancel the original plates, labels or stamps.