Author: joyce
Last saved by: ruddley_e

RPPL No.                7 - 1  
	(Intro. as HB No. 6-277‑25S, SD4, CD1)

SIXTH OLBIIL ERA KELULAU

Twenty‑fifth Special Session, Apri12004 RPPL No. 7-1
(Intro. as HB No. 6-277‑25S, SD4, CD1)

AN ACT

To amend 42 PNC 401 to increase the vehicle operator license fee, to establish a revolving fund, for the collection and expenditure of operator license fees, and for other purposes.

THE PEOPLE OF PALAU REPRESENTED IN THE OLBIIL ERA KELULAU DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Findings and purposes. Since the passage of RPPL No. 4‑16, there has been an increase in the number of vehicle operators and no increase in the fee imposed for the issuance of vehicle operator licenses. More importantly, it has become evident that new technology is necessary to produce licenses with enhanced security features. An improved vehicle operator license will reduce forgeries and benefit the people of the Republic of Palau when operating vehicles in foreign jurisdictions and for identification purposes. To ensure sufficient funding to issue improved vehicle operator licenses, it is justified to increase the operator license fee from $10 to $25 per license and to establish the "Operator License Fund" as a revolving fund administered by the Bureau of Public Safety to pay expenses associated with producing the improved licenses.

Section 2. Amendments. 42 PNC 401, regarding vehicle operator license fee, is amended to read as follows:

"Section 401. License required; fees; breadth or privilege granted by license. No person except those expressly exempted in this chapter shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in the Republic unless such person has been licensed as an operator under this chapter. A fee of $25.00 shall be paid to the Director for each such license issued and deposited into a revolving fund designated as the "Operator License Fund." Said fund shall be used to pay for the costs to produce vehicle operators' licenses. All unused or unobligated funds in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) contained in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall revert to the National Treasury. The Bureau of Public Safety shall report at the end of each fiscal year to the Olbiil Era Kelulau on the total number of licenses issued, the amount of funds collected, the total amount of funds expended from this fund, and the purposes for which funds were expended."

Section 3. Appropriation. The fees collected pursuant to 42 PNC 401 are authorized to be appropriated and appropriated from year to year for deposit into the Operator License Fund, which shall be segregated and separate from all other funds and accounts in the National Treasury Funds in the Operator License Fund shall not be commingled with other funds in the National Treasury. The Operator License Fund shall be administered by the Director of the Bureau of Public Safety. Funds may be disbursed from the Operator License Fund to pay the costs of producing vehicle operator licenses, not to include salaries or any other form of compensation to Bureau of Public Safety personnel or other costs unrelated to producing vehicle operator licenses. All funds in excess of $10,000.00 remaining in the Operator License Fund at the end of each fiscal year shall revert to the General Fund in the National Treasury as unrestricted revenues.

Section 4. Amendment. 42 PNC 410 is amended to read as follows:

"Section 410. Term. Every operator's license issued shall be valid for five years from the date of issue unless suspended or revoked as provided in this chapter. The five‑year term of validity applies to operator's licenses issued on or after the effective date of this section, as amended."

Section 5. Effective Date. This Act shall take effect upon its approval by the President
of the Republic of Palau or upon its becoming law without such approval.

PASSED: December 30, 2004

Approved this 12 day of January , 2005.

-_________________/s/ _____ 
 Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr. 
 President
 Republic of Palau