Senate approves Rotary specialty license plate to fund youth exchange and service programs

Senator John Knudson introduced legislation to allow Rotary clubs in Utah to sell a Rotary specialty license plate, directing proceeds to support Rotary 501(c)(3) youth leadership, exchange and humanitarian programs.

"This bill will allow for funding to help this program and others to continue," Senator Knudson said, and he invited guests from Rotary and an exchange student, Ami, to the gallery as examples of programs the plate would support. Knudson said Rotary clubs would pay for development of the plate and that funds would be earmarked for the cited programs.

Supporters on the floor noted Rotary’s existing outreach and early public interest: Senator Bramble, a longtime Rotarian, told the chamber he ‘‘applaud[ed] the sponsor for bringing this forward’’ and other senators said clubs had already pre-sold plates. Senator Van Tassel said the sponsoring clubs had pre-sold nearly 800 plates, meaning the first issue would be widely distributed.

Senator Knudson moved under suspension of the rules to consider the measure for final passage. The chamber first voted to suspend the rules and then approved final passage on a roll-call vote that registered 26 yea, 0 nay, 3 absent. The bill will be forwarded to the House for its action.

Procedural note: the sponsor asked that visiting Rotary leaders and the exchange student be recognized on the Senate floor during the presentation. No fiscal details obligating state funds were introduced on the floor; the sponsor described the plate as primarily a funding mechanism created and advanced by the non-profit sponsor to support its programs.

The next procedural step is transmission to the House for concurrence or further action there.