A. The division shall establish and issue special collegiate registration plates in accordance with the provisions of this section and shall adopt and promulgate procedures for application for and issuance of such special collegiate registration plates.
B. Any state-supported higher educational institution in New Mexico may request that the division issue a special collegiate registration plate for that institution. Upon that request, the division, with the advice and consultation of the higher educational institution, shall determine the color and design of the registration plate and provide for its issuance.
C. For a fee of thirty-five dollars ($35.00), which fee shall be in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fees, any owner of a motor vehicle may apply for the issuance of a special collegiate registration plate. The owner of a motor vehicle shall apply and pay a fee each year that he wishes to retain and renew his special collegiate registration plate.
D. The revenue from the special collegiate registration plates shall be distributed as follows:
(1) ten dollars ($10.00) of the fee collected for each registration plate shall be retained by the division in the seventy-eighth and seventy-ninth fiscal years and is appropriated to the division for the manufacture and issuance of the registration plates. Thereafter, that amount of each fee shall be paid to the state treasurer for credit to the motor vehicle suspense fund for distribution in accordance with Section 66-6-23 NMSA 1978; and
(2) twenty-five dollars ($25.00) of the fee collected for each registration plate shall be distributed to the higher educational institution for which the registration plate is issued.
E. Revenues received by each higher educational institution from special collegiate registration plate fees are appropriated to the higher educational institutions to carry out any purpose of that institution.
History: Laws 1989, ch. 360, § 1.