8-1,211. Back the blue license plate; requirements. (a) On and after January 1, 2024, any owner or lessee of one or more passenger vehicles or trucks registered for a gross weight of 20,000 pounds or less, who is a resident of Kansas, upon compliance with the provisions of this section, may be issued one back the blue license plate for each such passenger vehicle or truck. Such license plates shall be issued for the same time as other license plates upon proper registration and payment of the regular license fee as provided in K.S.A. 8-143, and amendments thereto, and payment to the county treasurer of the law enforcement support fee as provided for in subsection (b).

(b) Any applicant or renewal of registration for a back the blue license plate authorized by this section shall make payment of a law enforcement support fee to the county treasurer of $30 for each license plate to be issued. Any law enforcement support fee payment received pursuant to this section shall be used to support the purposes of the Kansas chapter of concerns of police survivors (COPS), inc.

(c) Any applicant for a license plate authorized by this section may make application for such license plate not less than 60 days prior to such person's renewal of registration date, on a form prescribed and furnished by the director of vehicles, and any applicant for such license plate shall pay to the county treasurer the law enforcement training support fee as provided for in subsection (b). Application for registration of a passenger vehicle or truck and issuance of the license plate under this section shall be made by the owner or lessee in a manner prescribed by the director of vehicles upon forms furnished by the director.

(d) No registration or license plate issued under this section shall be transferable to any other person.

(e) The director of vehicles may transfer back the blue license plates from a leased vehicle to a purchased vehicle.

(f) Renewals of registration under this section shall be made annually, upon payment of the fee prescribed in K.S.A. 8-143, and amendments thereto, and in the manner prescribed in K.S.A. 8-132(b), and amendments thereto. No renewal of registration shall be made to any applicant until such applicant pays the law enforcement support fee to the county treasurer as provided for in subsection (b). If the annual law enforcement support fee payment is not made to the county treasurer at the time of registration, the applicant shall be required to comply with K.S.A. 8-143, and amendments thereto, and return the license plate to the county treasurer of such person's residence.

(g) The Kansas chapter of concerns of police survivors (COPS), inc. shall provide to all county treasurers an electronic mail address where applicants can contact the Kansas chapter of concerns of police survivors (COPS), inc. for information concerning the application process or the status of such applicant's license plate application.

(h) The back the blue license plate shall have a background design, an emblem or colors that designate the license plate as a back the blue license plate.

(i) As a condition of receiving the back the blue license plate and any subsequent registration renewal of such license plate, the applicant shall provide consent to the division authorizing the division's release of motor vehicle record information, including the applicant's name, address, law enforcement support fee payment amount, plate number and vehicle type to the Kansas chapter of concerns of police survivors (COPS), inc. and the state treasurer.

(j) The collection and remittance of annual law enforcement support fee payments by the county treasurer shall be subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 8-1,141(h), and amendments thereto, except that payments from the back the blue royalty fund shall be made on a monthly basis to the Kansas chapter of concerns of police survivors (COPS), inc.

History: L. 2023, ch. 73, § 1; July 1.