Proposed legislation to create a specialty license plate for the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Ohio and its integration into the existing license plate contribution fund.
Main Themes:
- Establishment of a New Specialty License Plate: The primary focus of this bill is to create a new “COSI” specialty license plate in Ohio.
- Framework for Specialty License Plate Funding: The bill details how contributions from the purchase of specialty license plates are collected and distributed to various organizations. This highlights a pre-existing system for channeling funds through the “license plate contribution fund.”
- Specific Beneficiary Designation: The bill explicitly designates the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) as the recipient of contributions generated by the proposed “COSI” license plate.
- Administrative Procedures and Fees: The bill outlines the process for applying for and receiving the specialty plate, including the required fees and their allocation.
- Existing Specialty Plate Beneficiaries: The extensive list within the bill provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse range of organizations currently benefiting from Ohio’s specialty license plate program.
Most Important Ideas and Facts:
- Creation of the “COSI” License Plate: Section 1 of the bill proposes enacting section 4503.742 of the Revised Code “to create the ‘COSI’ specialty license plate.” This is the core action of the legislation.
- License Plate Contribution Fund: The bill emphasizes the existing “license plate contribution fund” created in section 4501.21 of the Revised Code. This fund is the central mechanism for managing contributions from various specialty plates. The fund “shall consist of all contributions for specialty license plates paid by motor vehicle registrants and collected by the registrar of motor vehicles pursuant to the Revised Code sections referenced in division (B) of this section.” (Lines 20-24)
- COSI as the Dedicated Recipient: Section 4503.742 (C)(1) explicitly states the allocation of the specialty plate contribution: “For each application for registration and registration renewal notice the registrar receives under this section, the registrar shall collect a contribution of twenty-five dollars. The registrar shall deposit this contribution into the state treasury to the credit of the license plate contribution fund created in section 4501.21 of the Revised Code.” Subsequently, the existing framework outlined in 4501.21 (B) would be amended (though not explicitly shown in these excerpts, the intent is clear) to direct the funds generated by the COSI plate to COSI. The language in the excerpt describes the logo and words on the plate as “selected by representatives of the center of science and industry located in the municipal corporation of Columbus and approved by the registrar.” (Lines 1329-1332)
- Contribution Amount: The contribution amount for the COSI plate is set at “twenty-five dollars.” (Line 1349)
- Administrative Fee: In addition to the contribution, there is an “additional administrative fee of ten dollars,” which “is to compensate the bureau of motor vehicles for additional services required in the issuing of ‘COSI’ license plates”. This fee is deposited into the “public safety – highway purposes fund”. (Lines 1354-1358)
- Wide Range of Beneficiaries: The extensive listing in Section 4501.21 (B) demonstrates the diverse nature of organizations currently receiving funds through specialty plates. These include:
- Health-related organizations (e.g., breast cancer fund of Ohio, Nationwide children’s hospital, NAMI Ohio)
- Educational institutions and foundations (e.g., Future Farmers of America foundation, Ohio region phi theta kappa, universities including out-of-state institutions, various school districts and high schools)
- Youth organizations (e.g., A Kid Again, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland)
- Veterans and military support groups (e.g., Disabled American Veterans Department of Ohio, Save a Warrior, Thank You Foundation, Folds of Honor of Central Ohio, Support Our Troops)
- Cultural and historical societies (e.g., Ohio History Connection, Medina County Historical Society, Western Reserve Historical Society)
- Environmental and conservation groups (e.g., Ohio Pet Fund, Ducks Unlimited, Mahoning River Consortium, Glen Helen Association, Conservany for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Pollinator Partnership’s Monarch Wings Across Ohio Program, Keep Ohio Beautiful)
- Fraternal and service organizations (e.g., Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Ohio Demolay, Rotary Foundation, Knights of Columbus, Moose Association, Fraternal Order of Police, Amaranth Grand Chapter Foundation)
- Sports-related entities (e.g., Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club, professional sports teams, Ohio Mountain Bike Alliance, Little Brown Jug Society, Grove City little league dream field fund, Terrace Park recreation committee)
- Community-specific organizations (e.g., Fairport Lights Foundation, Dublin food pantry, Circleville Pumpkin Show)
- Other diverse groups (e.g., Ohio craft brewers association, Dolly Parton’s imagination library of Ohio, Wright B. Flyer, Siegel Shuster society, Ohio society for respiratory care, Ohio chapter international society of arboriculture, zero, the end of prostate cancer)
- Mental and Emotional Well-being Focus: Notably, several school districts listed as beneficiaries, such as Solon, Canton, Padua Franciscan, North Royalton, Independence, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Chagrin Falls, and St. Xavier High School, explicitly state that the contributions will be used for services assisting in the “developing or maintaining the mental and emotional well-being of the students.” This includes counseling, sensitivity training, and education on topics like bullying, drug abuse, and suicide prevention.
- Tuition Assistance and Scholarships: Many educational institutions, both public and private, are designated to use the funds for scholarships or tuition assistance for Ohio residents or their students.
- Restrictions on Fund Use: The bill includes specific restrictions on how certain organizations can use the contributions. For example, some educational institutions are prohibited from using funds for administering scholarship programs, and some school districts are prohibited from using funds for political purposes or employee salaries.
- Investment Earnings: The bill states that “All investment earnings of the license plate contribution fund shall be credited to the fund.” (Lines 1301-1302) These earnings are distributed annually to each entity based on the amount of money they received in the previous year.
Key Quotes:
- “To amend section 4501.21 and to enact section 4503.742 of the Revised Code to create the ‘COSI’ specialty license plate.” (Lines 9-12)
- “There is hereby created in the state treasury the license plate contribution fund. The fund shall consist of all contributions for specialty license plates paid by motor vehicle registrants and collected by the registrar of motor vehicles pursuant to the Revised Code sections referenced in division (B) of this section.” (Lines 18-24)
- “For each application for registration and registration renewal notice the registrar receives under this section, the registrar shall collect a contribution of twenty-five dollars. The registrar shall deposit this contribution into the state treasury to the credit of the license plate contribution fund created in section 4501.21 of the Revised Code.” (Lines 1347-1352)
- “In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed on the license plates, ‘COSI’ license plates shall display an appropriate logo and words that are selected by representatives of the center of science and industry located in the municipal corporation of Columbus and approved by the registrar.” (Lines 1326-1332)
- “The registrar shall deposit the administrative fee of ten dollars… into the state treasury to the credit of the public safety – highway purposes fund created in section 4501.06 of the Revised Code.” (Lines 1354-1358)
Potential Implications:
- Increased Funding for COSI: Passage of this bill would provide a new and potentially significant revenue stream for the Center of Science and Industry, supporting its operations and programs.
- Expansion of the Specialty Plate Program: The creation of a new specialty plate adds to the already extensive list of organizations benefiting from this funding mechanism.
- Continued Support for Diverse Causes: The bill highlights the broad scope of the specialty plate program, which supports a wide array of initiatives across Ohio.
- Transparency in Fund Allocation: The bill clearly outlines the flow of funds from the purchase of a specialty plate to the designated recipient.
Further Considerations:
- The exact design of the “COSI” license plate logo and words are subject to approval by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, but will be selected by COSI representatives.
- The success of the COSI license plate in generating contributions will depend on public interest and willingness to purchase the plate.
- The bill is in its “As Introduced” stage, meaning it may be subject to amendments as it moves through the legislative process.
This briefing document provides a summary of the key aspects of Ohio Senate Bill 189 as presented in the provided excerpts. It focuses on the creation of the COSI specialty license plate and the established framework for distributing funds generated by such plates.