13 WTHR IndianapolisIndiana panel backs tighter specialty plate rules

Indiana panel backs tighter specialty plate rules

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INDIANAPOLIS -

An Indiana group that supports gay youth could lose its specialty license plate under a bill approved by a legislative panel.

The House Roads and Transportation Committee voted 8-2 Wednesday to advance legislation restricting which groups can have special plates.

Indiana nonprofits can receive $25 of every $40 spent on a specialty plate. Nonprofits earned more than $11 million from 420,000 such plates sold in 2011.

The Indianapolis Star reports the legislation would end sales of specialty plates by groups that sold fewer than 1,000 plates in 2011. It also would shift specialty plate approval from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to lawmakers.

The changes would impact organizations such as the Indiana Youth Group. Conservatives say the group shouldn't have a plate because of its work with gay youth.

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