Vehicle registration modernization study., the official text

An act to add and repeal Article 11 (commencing with Section 5400) of Chapter 1 of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing law prohibits a person from operating, as specified, any motor vehicle unless it is registered and the appropriate fees have been paid. Under existing law, the Director of Motor Vehicles is authorized to establish a registration year for any vehicle consisting of any period from 7 months to 18 months, inclusive, with subsequent renewals being required at yearly intervals thereafter. Existing law requires current month and year tabs to be attached to the rear license plate assigned to a vehicle for the last preceding registration year in which license plates were issued.
This bill would request the Milton Marks “Little Hoover” Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy to conduct a study on modernizing vehicle registration in the state, including, at a minimum, an analysis of the effect of eliminating physical registration stickers, authorizing the department to issue or renew a motor vehicle registration for 2 years, and authorizing installment payments for vehicle registration. The bill would request the commission to submit a report to the Legislature on the study no later than January 1, 2028.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.
Article 11 (commencing with Section 5400) is added to Chapter 1 of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code, to read:
11.
Vehicle Registration Modernization Study5400.
(a) The Legislature requests the Milton Marks “Little Hoover” Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy, established pursuant to Section 8501 of the Government Code, to conduct a study on modernizing motor vehicle registration in the state.
(b) The study shall include, at a minimum, an analysis of the effect of all of the following:
(1) Eliminating physical registration stickers.
(2) Authorizing the department to issue or renew a motor vehicle registration for two years.
(3) Authorizing installment payments for motor vehicle registration.

5401.
(a) The Legislature requests the commission to submit a report to the Legislature on the study conducted pursuant to Section 5400 no later than January 1, 2028.
(b) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

5402.
This article shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.