61-3-338. Contract for manufacture and distribution of license plates. (1) The department shall contract with Montana correctional enterprises for the manufacture, inventory control, storage, and distribution of all license plates issued under this chapter.

(2) The contract must include provisions for payment to Montana correctional enterprises after license plates are shipped to the department, the office of a county treasurer, an authorized agent, or a vehicle owner, as directed by the department or at the request of a vehicle owner.

(3) The contract must require Montana correctional enterprises to provide the necessary interface to support the automated ordering of license plates by the department or as directed by the department and to acquire and use readability software to assess any new plate design or manufactured plate and, if requested by the department, any previously issued license plates.