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Secretary of State recommends affidavit-based multiyear inspection option for rental-car fleets; committee agrees to draft bill language
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Summary
Secretary of State Shanna Bellows told the Transportation Committee a multiyear inspection approach (with a company affidavit) is preferable to multiyear registration because excise tax and municipal processes are annual; the committee voted to pursue committee language and asked to involve Lieutenant Bruce Scott.
Secretary of State Shanna Bellows and Deputy Secretary Emily Cook presented a report required by Public Law 2025, chapter 78, evaluating a multiyear registration system for national car rental companies and options to reduce administrative burdens.
Bellows said the working group recommends against changing registration cycles because excise tax collection and municipal systems are structured on an annual basis; instead, the group recommended a multiyear inspection process, in which a rental company could submit an affidavit guaranteeing that its fleet would be maintained to meet inspection standards for a two-year cycle.
"So from that perspective, we don't recommend a multiyear registration process. We recommend a multiyear inspection process that will bring efficiency to the car rental industry," Bellows said, adding that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles already has statutory authority to implement multiyear registration programs if the legislature chooses.
Committee members asked about worst-case scenarios, how affidavit accountability would be enforced, recordkeeping and whether inspection records would be available to law enforcement. Deputy Secretary Cook said the working group envisioned a single affidavit per company guaranteeing fleet maintenance and that details about records and enforcement would need to be worked out with Lieutenant Bruce Scott and other stakeholders.
Outcome: The committee voted to move forward with proposed language from the Secretary of State and to pursue committee bill drafting, asking for Lieutenant Scott’s input and a forthcoming public hearing on the drafted language.
