Provides for the establishment of distinctive congenital heart defect awareness license plates

1 Co-sponsor

• Dale M. Volker

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing distinctive congenital heart defects awareness plates

Purpose

The purpose of this bill is to establish a distinctive license plate in support of congenital heart defects awareness.

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Adds Vehicle & Traffic Law section 404-x to establish a distinctive congenital heart defects awareness plate to increase the public awareness of persons who have congenital heart defects.

Existing law

Such a distinctive plate does not exist under current law.

Justification

The organization, "It's My Heart", maintains that Congenital Heart Defects' (CHD's) is the number one serious birth defect that affects babies born in the United States. It is estimated that 1 in every 100 babies has such a condition and that number effects approximately 40,000 children each year. Further, that twice as many children die each year from CHD's than from all forms of childhood cancers combined.

It is important to provide awareness, support and education to families and to the community at large about congenital heart defects. Utilizing methods such as these distinctive license plates can help to increase awareness of this condition and assist families that have suffered a loss due to CHD.

Legislative history

S.7176 of 2008

Fiscal implications

None.

Local fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediate.