(a) (1) Distinctive license plates issued for a motor vehicle owned by a current or retired Member of the California Legislature, which plates denote that the person is, or was, a Member of the Legislature, and distinctive license plates issued for a vehicle owned by a Member of the Congress of the United States, which plates denote that the person is a Member of Congress, shall be subject to the regular fees for an original registration or renewal of registration.

(2) In addition to the regular fees for an original registration or renewal of registration, the applicant shall be charged the following additional fees:

(b) For an original registration, the applicant shall be charged the fee specified in subdivision (a) of Section 5106.

(c) For a renewal of registration, the applicant shall be charged the fee specified in subdivision (b) of Section 5106.

(d) When a Member or former Member of the California Legislature or a Member of the Congress of the United States who has been issued personalized license plates pursuant to this section applies to the department for transfer of the plates to another passenger vehicle, commercial motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, a transfer fee in the amount specified pursuant to Section 5108 shall be charged in addition to all other appropriate fees.

(e) After deducting the costs incurred by the department to administer this section, the department shall deposit in the California Environmental License Plate Fund, all fees received by the department in payment for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of the special license plates authorized under this section.

(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2014.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 748, Sec. 2. (AB 2068) Effective January 1, 2013. Amended version operative January 1, 2014, by its own provisions.)