Specialized license plates.

Existing law establishes a specialized license plate program and requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue specialized license plates on behalf of a sponsoring state agency that meets certain requirements. Existing law requires that the DMV charge specified additional fees for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of specialized license plates, and requires the DMV to deposit the fees, less the DMV's costs, into the Specialized License Plate Fund. Existing law requires that moneys in the fund be allocated, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to each sponsoring agency in proportion to the amount that is attributable to the agency's specialized license plate program. Existing law requires the sponsoring state agency to use these moneys exclusively to fund projects and programs that promote the state agency's official policy, mission, or work. Existing law establishes the Food Bank Advisory Committee and requires the committee to advise the Department of Food and Agriculture on the establishment of new food banks and to advise on the adequate and efficient distribution of surplus food commodities to all areas of the state. This bill would require the Department of Food and Agriculture to apply to the DMV to sponsor an Imagine license plate bearing an image of John Lennon and the word "Imagine" under the numerical series. The bill would direct the DMV to deposit the additional revenue from these license plates into the Imagine Account, which the bill would create. The bill would continuously appropriate moneys in the Imagine Account to the Department of Food and Agriculture for allocation to a nonprofit organization for the purpose of funding grants to local food banks. The bill would require the Department of Food and Agriculture to determine eligibility requirements for food banks receiving the funds under the Imagine program and to develop program specifics. The bill would authorize the Department of Food and Agriculture to contract with an entity, including a nonprofit organization, to provide advice, consultation, and administrative services for purposes of implementing and administering the Imagine program. The bill would require the Department of Food and Agriculture to provide oversight for the program and would limit the nonprofit selected by the department from using more than 5 percent of the moneys received for its administrative costs.