special plate; search and rescue

HB 2724 creates a new "Search and Rescue Special Plate" program for Arizona license plates. To implement the program, an individual or organization must pay $32,000 upfront to the state, design the plate (subject to department approval), and may combine it with personalized plates. When purchasing these plates, owners pay a $25 annual fee, with $17 of that amount going directly to a new Search and Rescue Special Plate Fund. This fund, managed by the state, will support search and rescue organizations, while the remaining $8 covers administrative costs in the state highway fund. The bill affects plate buyers who choose this special plate option and the organizations receiving funds from the new program.