Specialty license plate bills on the way to Senate

SALT LAKE CITY -- Bills to create two specialty license plates received unanimous approval from a Senate committee Monday.

Each licence plate would require a $25 annual donation to the specified organization. The Utah Department of Motor Vehicles must receive 500 applications per plate before production can begin.

SB64, sponsored by Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, would raise funding for the Real Salt Lake Soccer Foundation to help fund training of youth soccer referees.

The foundation's director, Mary Van Minde, told the Senate Transportation and Public Utilities and Technology Committee that Utah is in severe need of youth referees and the revenue generated would fund their training.

Real Salt Lake has 15,000 season ticket holders, Van Minde said, so the foundation is confident it will easily find the necessary 500 people to apply for the plates.

SB69, sponsored by Sen. David Hinkins, R-Orangeville, would benefit children with heart disease by raising money to increase awareness and fund research.

The bills now advance to the full Senate.

-- Emily Larson