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        PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1063, 3373               PRINTER'S NO. 3423

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 944 Session of 2001


        INTRODUCED BY CORRIGAN, ALLEN, BARRAR, BASTIAN, BEBKO-JONES,
           BELFANTI, BISHOP, BUNT, BUTKOVITZ, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPABIANCA,
           CAWLEY, CIVERA, COLAFELLA, COSTA, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, DeLUCA,
           DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, EACHUS, LYNCH, LUCYK, LEDERER, LAUGHLIN,
           HUTCHINSON, HORSEY, HENNESSEY, HARHAI, GRUCELA, GEORGE,
           GEIST, GABIG, McCALL, MELIO, MICOZZIE, ORIE, PALLONE,
           PETRARCA, RAYMOND, READSHAW, ROBERTS, ROONEY, RUFFING,
           SAINATO, SATHER, SAYLOR, SCHULER, SHANER, SOLOBAY, STEELMAN,
           STERN, SURRA, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TRELLO, WANSACZ, WATERS,
           WATSON, J. WILLIAMS, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD AND YUDICHAK,
           MARCH 13, 2001

        AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
           MARCH 13, 2002

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
     2     Statutes, exempting ex-prisoners of war from paying any fees
     3     for titling or registration of vehicles; AND FURTHER           <--
     4     PROVIDING FOR SCOPE AND APPLICATION OF CHAPTER 49 AND FOR
     5     REFUNDS.

     6     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     7  hereby enacts as follows:
     8     Section 1.  Section 1901 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
     9  Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
    10  § 1901.  Exemption of persons, entities and vehicles from fees.
    11     (a)  Governmental and quasi-governmental entities.--Except as
    12  otherwise specifically provided in this title, no fees shall be
    13  charged under this title to any of the following:
    14         (1)  The Commonwealth.


     1         (2)  Political subdivisions.
     2         (3)  State and local authorities.
     3         (4)  State-related institutions of higher learning.
     4         (5)  The Federal Government.
     5         (6)  Other states.
     6     (b)  Title and registration fees.--No fee shall be charged
     7  for titling or registration of any of the following:
     8         (1)  Buses registered by urban mass transportation
     9     systems.
    10         (2)  Vehicles registered by volunteer fire, rescue and
    11     ambulance associations.
    12         (3)  Vehicles registered by foreign nationals with the
    13     rank of vice consul or higher assigned to a consulate in this
    14     Commonwealth provided that citizens of the United States are
    15     granted reciprocal exemptions.
    16         (4)  Vehicles of totally disabled veterans whose
    17     disability is certified by the service unit of the armed
    18     forces in which the veterans served or by the United States
    19     Veterans' Administration as service-connected.
    20         (5)  Vehicles on loan or transferred to a nonprofit
    21     corporation by the United States Department of Defense or the
    22     United States General Services Administration and used
    23     exclusively for leasing to political subdivisions, State
    24     agencies and the Federal Government. Such vehicles shall be
    25     issued the same kind of registration plates as are issued to
    26     vehicles registered by political subdivisions.
    27         (6)  A person who, as a member of the armed forces of the
    28     United States, was captured by the enemy during World War I,
    29     World War II, the Korean Emergency, the Vietnam Conflict or
    30     in a future armed conflict for which the Department of
    20010H0944B3423                  - 2 -

     1     Defense authorizes a campaign medal.
     2     (c)  Processing fee in lieu of registration fee.--No
     3  registration fee shall be charged for vehicles registered by any
     4  of the following but the department shall charge a fee of $10 to
     5  cover the costs of processing for issuing or renewing the
     6  registration:
     7         (1)  Hospital.
     8         (2)  Humane society.
     9         (3)  Nonprofit youth center.
    10         (4)  American Red Cross.
    11         (5)  Church.
    12         (6)  Girl Scouts of America.
    13         (7)  Boy Scouts of America.
    14         (8)  Salvation Army.
    15         (9)  Duly chartered posts of national veterans'
    16     organizations.
    17         (10)  Young Men's Christian Association.
    18         (11)  Young Men's Hebrew Association.
    19         (12)  Young Women's Christian Association.
    20         (13)  Young Women's Hebrew Association.
    21         (14)  Jewish Community Center.
    22         (15)  Nonprofit corporations of musical marching groups
    23     of youths.
    24         (16)  Any person who is retired and receiving social
    25     security or other pension and whose total annual income does
    26     not exceed $19,200. Unless the retired person is physically
    27     or mentally incapable of driving the vehicle, the retired
    28     person shall be the principal driver of the vehicle but may
    29     from time to time authorize another person to drive the
    30     vehicle in his or her stead.
    20010H0944B3423                  - 3 -

     1         (17)  Any veteran who lost a limb or eye or who became
     2     partially paralyzed while serving in the armed forces of the
     3     United States.
     4         [(18)  A person who, as a member of the armed forces of
     5     the United States, was captured by the enemy during World War
     6     I, World War II, the Korean Emergency, the Vietnam Conflict
     7     or in a future armed conflict for which the Department of
     8     Defense authorizes a campaign medal.]
     9         (19)  Any person who has been awarded the Congressional
    10     Medal of Honor.
    11         (20)  Nonprofit organizations which care for or otherwise
    12     provide services for the elderly or the infirm.
    13         (21)  Nonprofit organizations which principally serve
    14     mentally or physically handicapped or disabled persons.
    15         (22)  Nonprofit mobile aviation museum.
    16         (23)  Nonprofit corporations that provide ambulance or
    17     emergency medical services.
    18     (d)  Limitations.--
    19         (1)  Vehicles titled and registered under the provisions
    20     of this section shall be operated and used exclusively for
    21     the purpose for which the vehicles were entitled to the
    22     exemptions from fees.
    23         (2)  Only one passenger car or truck with a registered
    24     gross weight of not more than 9,000 pounds may be registered
    25     to any person under the provisions of subsection (b)(4) and
    26     subsection (c)(16), (17)[, (18)] and (19).
    27     (e)  Penalty.--Any person violating the provisions of this
    28  section is guilty of a summary offense.
    29     SECTION 2.  SECTIONS 4901(C) AND 9017(D) OF TITLE 75 ARE       <--
    30  AMENDED AND THE SECTIONS ARE AMENDED BY ADDING SUBSECTIONS TO
    20010H0944B3423                  - 4 -

     1  READ:
     2  § 4901.  SCOPE AND APPLICATION OF CHAPTER.
     3     * * *
     4     (C)  PERMIT AUTHORIZING PROHIBITED MOVEMENT.--IF AN
     5  OVERWEIGHT OR OVERSIZE MOVEMENT CANNOT BE MADE IN ANY OTHER
     6  FEASIBLE MANNER, THE PERMIT MAY AUTHORIZE THE MOVEMENT TO BE
     7  MADE IN CONTRAVENTION TO ANY PROVISION OF THIS TITLE PROVIDED
     8  THAT:
     9         (1)  THE DEPARTMENT OR LOCAL AUTHORITY DETERMINES THAT
    10     THE MOVEMENT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST; AND
    11         (2)  THE MOVEMENT IS ESCORTED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE
    12     POLICE, EXTRA-DUTY PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE OR DEPARTMENT
    13     PERSONNEL [WHILE ANY PROVISION OF THIS TITLE IS BEING
    14     CONTRAVENED]. IF THE MOVEMENT IS ESCORTED BY EXTRA-DUTY
    15     PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE OR DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL, THE
    16     FOLLOWING SHALL APPLY:
    17             (I)  APPROVAL MUST BE OBTAINED FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA
    18         STATE POLICE.
    19             (II)  THE PERMITTEE SHALL BEAR THE EXPENSE OF
    20         ESCORTING THE MOVEMENT.
    21             (III)  EXTRA-DUTY PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE AND
    22         DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL SHALL BE IMMUNE FROM CIVIL OR
    23         CRIMINAL LIABILITY ARISING FROM ESCORTING A MOVEMENT IN
    24         ACCORDANCE WITH THIS PARAGRAPH.
    25     * * *
    26     (E)  DEFINITION.--AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE TERM "EXTRA-
    27  DUTY PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE" MEANS SWORN MEMBERS OF THE
    28  PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE ASSIGNED, ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS, TO
    29  PERFORM WORK OUTSIDE OF THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED SHIFT ON AN
    30  OVERTIME BASIS, TO A DETAIL THAT IS THE EXCLUSIVE ACTIVITY TO BE
    20010H0944B3423                  - 5 -

     1  PERFORMED DURING THE SHIFT ASSIGNMENT.
     2  § 9017.  REFUNDS.
     3     * * *
     4     [(D)  OFF-HIGHWAY RECREATIONAL VEHICLES.--
     5         (1)  WHEN THE TAX IMPOSED BY THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN PAID
     6     ON FUEL USED IN OFF-HIGHWAY RECREATIONAL VEHICLES WITHIN THIS
     7     COMMONWEALTH, AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE REVENUE GENERATED BY THE
     8     TAX, BUT NOT DERIVED THEREFROM, MAY BE APPROPRIATED THROUGH
     9     THE GENERAL FUND TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND
    10     NATURAL RESOURCES. IT IS THE INTENT OF THIS CHAPTER THAT ALL
    11     PROCEEDS FROM THE TAX PAID ON FUEL USED IN OFF-HIGHWAY
    12     RECREATIONAL VEHICLES WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH BE PAID
    13     WITHOUT DIMINUTION OF THE MOTOR LICENSE FUND.
    14         (2)  THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
    15     SHALL BIENNIALLY CALCULATE THE AMOUNT OF LIQUID FUEL CONSUMED
    16     BY OFF-HIGHWAY RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AND FURNISH INFORMATION
    17     RELATING TO ITS CALCULATIONS AND DATA AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY
    18     THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND THE
    19     APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
    20         (3)  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL REVIEW THE FUEL
    21     CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
    22     AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF LIQUID FUELS
    23     TAX PAID ON LIQUID FUELS CONSUMED IN THE PROPULSION OF OFF-
    24     HIGHWAY RECREATIONAL VEHICLES IN THIS COMMONWEALTH AND MAY
    25     ANNUALLY APPROPRIATE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND
    26     NATURAL RESOURCES THE AMOUNT SO DETERMINED.
    27         (4)  MONEY APPROPRIATED UNDER PARAGRAPH (3) SHALL BE USED
    28     FOR THE BENEFIT OF MOTORIZED AND NONMOTORIZED RECREATIONAL
    29     TRAILS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL
    30     RESOURCES AS PROVIDED IN THE INTERMODAL SURFACE
    20010H0944B3423                  - 6 -

     1     TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT OF 1991 (PUBLIC LAW 102-240,
     2     105 STAT. 1914).]
     3     (D.1)  MOTORIZED RECREATIONAL VEHICLES.--AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO
     4  50% OF THE TAX IMPOSED BY SECTION 9004(A) (RELATING TO
     5  IMPOSITION OF TAX, EXEMPTIONS AND DEDUCTIONS) ON FUEL CONSUMED
     6  IN THE OPERATION OF MOTORIZED RECREATIONAL VEHICLES WITHIN THIS
     7  COMMONWEALTH, BUT NOT TO EXCEED $1,000,000, SHALL BE REFUNDED
     8  OUT OF THE LIQUID FUELS TAX FUND TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
     9  CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:
    10         (1)  THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED A SPECIAL NONLAPSING
    11     RESTRICTED RECEIPTS ACCOUNT IN THE STATE TREASURY TO BE KNOWN
    12     AS THE RECREATIONAL TRAILS TRUST FUND.
    13         (2)  ONE-HALF OF THE TAX REVENUES, NOT TO EXCEED
    14     $1,000,000, GENERATED BY THE TAX IMPOSED BY SECTION 9004(A)
    15     ON FUEL USED IN MOTORIZED RECREATIONAL VEHICLES USED WITHIN
    16     THIS COMMONWEALTH, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
    17     CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES, SHALL BE ANNUALLY
    18     REFUNDED TO THE DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE RECREATIONAL TRAILS
    19     TRUST FUND.
    20         (3)  ALL MONEYS IN THE FUND ARE HEREBY APPROPRIATED ON A
    21     CONTINUING NONLAPSING BASIS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
    22     AND NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE ACTIVITIES REFERRED TO IN
    23     PARAGRAPH (5).
    24         (4)  ALL INTEREST EARNED BY THE FUND AND REFUNDS OR
    25     REPAYMENTS SHALL BE CREDITED TO THE FUND AND ARE HEREBY
    26     APPROPRIATED IN THE SAME MANNER AS PARAGRAPH (3).
    27         (5)  ALL MONEY IN THE FUND SHALL BE USED BY THE
    28     DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES IN
    29     ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SNOWMOBILE AND ATV
    30     ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE ACQUISITION, CREATION AND
    20010H0944B3423                  - 7 -

     1     MAINTENANCE OF TRAILS USED BY MOTORIZED RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
     2     AND FOR ENFORCEMENT IN STATE FORESTS AND STATE PARKS.
     3     * * *
     4     Section 2 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.           <--


















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