The bill amends sections 4503.038, 4503.19, and 5502.68 of the Revised Code and introduces new sections 4503.261 and 4503.262, allowing the registrar of motor vehicles to contract with a private vendor for the issuance of specialty license plates. The registrar must utilize a competitive selection process to choose a vendor responsible for designing and marketing the plates, while retaining authority over the issuance and collection of related taxes and fees. The vendor's contract can last up to two years with possible extensions, and they must comply with specific electronic infrastructure and security standards.

Additionally, the bill establishes the public safety license plate contract fund, funded by fees from the specialty license plate program, and modifies the drug law enforcement fund to include contributions from this program. The funds will support drug task forces in enforcing state drug laws, with priority given to those that received funding in 2007 and those in counties with populations over 750,000. A cap of $250,000 per calendar year is set for individual task force grants, and compliance with reporting requirements to the El Paso intelligence center is mandated. The bill also defines a "drug task force" and includes provisions for the repeal of the previously mentioned sections of the Revised Code, indicating a significant update to the legal framework governing drug task forces.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4503.038, 4503.19, 5502.68