Senate Bill 299 establishes a grant program administered by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to support law enforcement agencies in purchasing automated registration plate reader systems. The bill defines an automated registration plate reader system as high-speed cameras that convert images of vehicle registration plates into computer-readable data. It specifies that eligible law enforcement agencies must submit a grant application that includes a proposed expenditure plan. Importantly, the bill mandates that at least 50 percent of the grant funds be allocated to agencies located in rural areas, defined as those with populations under 20,000 and situated at least 15 miles from larger municipalities.

The bill creates a new section, 165.985, in the statutes, detailing the parameters of the grant program, including definitions for key terms such as "law enforcement agency" and "rural area." The law enforcement agencies eligible for these grants include local agencies and the Marquette University police department, but exclude state agencies. The DOJ is tasked with reviewing applications and awarding grants based on the proposed plans submitted by the agencies.