The bill introduced by Senator Craig, along with Senators Romanchuk and Brenner, seeks to amend section 4501.21 and enact section 4503.537 of the Revised Code to establish a new specialty license plate known as the "Lifetown" license plate. This initiative is part of a broader effort to create specialty license plates that generate contributions for specific causes. The bill establishes a license plate contribution fund within the state treasury, which will collect contributions from motor vehicle registrants. The registrar of motor vehicles will direct these contributions to Lifetown, Incorporated, which will utilize the funds to support its programs and activities. The bill also outlines the distribution of contributions to various organizations for specific purposes, ensuring that funds are used exclusively for their designated missions.

Additionally, the bill specifies that contributions received from the "Lifetown" license plates will be used to support student welfare and mental health services in Ohio school districts. Each district is required to allocate fifty percent of the contributions for tuition assistance and the other fifty percent for mental health services, with a focus on various educational and support programs. The bill mandates that any charitable organizations providing these services must be tax-exempt under subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Furthermore, it introduces new provisions for the registration of "Lifetown" license plates, including a fifteen-dollar contribution and a ten-dollar administrative fee, while repealing the existing section 4501.21 to streamline the process.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4501.21