Authorizes distinctive license plates for Korean Defense veterans or the spouse of any such veteran

BILL NUMBER:S2749A

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to distinctive plates for Korean Defense veterans

Purpose

This bill allows the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue distinctive plates to Korean Defense Veterans and the spouses thereof.

Summary of provisions

Section one amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law by adding a new section 404-x that creates a distinctive license plate for Korean Defense veterans. The plate will bear the words "Korean Defense Veteran." Such license plates may be issued to Korean Defense veterans and their spouses. A "Korean Defense Veteran" is a New York resident who served in the armed forces of the United States, was awarded the Korean Defense Service Medal, and was honorably discharged. The commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles is not required to issue the new license plate unless the Commissioner determines that the aggregate amount of the annual service charge for such plates will be sufficient to offset the cost of designing and manufacturing the new plates.

Section two provides that this act shall take effect one hundred and eighty days after it shall become law.

Existing law

Currently, the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles is not authorized to issue Korean Defense Veteran license plates.

Justification

More than 40,000 members of the United States armed forces have served on the Korean Peninsula each year since the cease-fire agreement in July 1953 ended the Korean War. Since the end of the Korean War, an estimated 1,200 servicemen and women have died as a direct result of the service in Korea.

These service men and women often times go unrecognized in our society. In December 2002 President George W. Bush signed The National Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2003, containing the Korea Defense Service Medal Act that instructs the Secretary of Defense to award the Korea Defense Service Medal to all current and former Armed Forces members that served in Korea from 28 July 1954 to a date to be determined.

This legislation will further recognize these brave service men and women in New York State and offer a small token of appreciation to those who served our country so valiantly.

Legislative history

2011-2: S.636 - Referred to Transportation both years 2009-10: S.2199 - Referred to Transportation both years 2008: S.451- Referred to Transportation

2007: S.451 - Reported to Finance 2006: S.8476 - Referred to Rules

Fiscal implications

Because the Commissioner of the Department of Motor vehicles is not required to issue the license plates unless the Commissioner determines that the aggregate annual service fees will cover the cost of designing and manufacturing the license plates, it is not anticipated that this legislation will have any significant fiscal impact on the State.

Effective date

180th day after it shall have become law.