Signed by Governor Gary Herbert

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the production of "In God We Trust" license plates, effective October 1, 2013.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the production of “In God We Trust” special group license plates once a minimum of 500 applications have been received, effective October 1, 2013 (Sec. 3).

• Establishes the In God We Trust Freedom Celebration Support Restricted Account, funded by the fees for the “In God We Trust” license plate (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Department of Heritage and Arts to distribute funds from the In God We Trust Freedom Celebration Support Restricted Account to 1 or more charitable organizations that fulfill the following requirements (Sec. 2):
  
  • Tax exempt according to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
  • Focus primarily on events surrounding the July 4 Independence Day holiday;
  • Located in the state and not affiliated with a parent organization; and
• Create or support a minimum of 20 educational programs and community events within the state that celebrate, teach, honor and strengthen traditional American values.

• Specifies that “traditional American values” include values of family, freedom, God and country (Sec. 2).

• Requires any organization receiving a distribution from the Department of Heritage and Arts to spend the distribution for the following purposes (Sec. 2):
• To create, support, or advertise programs and events within the state that celebrate traditional American values;
• To sponsor youth speech, multimedia, and essay contests that encourage youth to honor traditional American values; or
• To pay the costs of issuing or reordering “In God We Trust” license plate decals.

Full Bill Text