Create AMVETS License Plates

Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 404-dd to read as follows:

§ 404-dd. Distinctive plates for members of AMVETS. 1. Any member of AMVETS residing in this state shall, upon request, be issued a license plate bearing the word "AMVETS". Application for said license plate shall be filed with the commissioner in such form and detail as the commissioner shall prescribe.

2. The distinctive plate authorized herein shall be issued upon proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the applicant is a member of AMVETS.

3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article, provided, however, that an additional one-time service charge of ten dollars shall be charged for such plate.

4. For the purposes of this section, "AMVETS" shall mean the veterans service organization chartered by congress as a membership corporation created pursuant to chapter 227 of title 36 of the United States code.

§ 2. Subdivision 1-a of section 404 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 103 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:

1-a. The commissioner may issue special number plates to applicants who are members of veterans organizations in the same manner as other number plates are issued pursuant to this article. Such special number

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD06525-04-7

A. 282--A 2

plates shall be issued only upon (a) payment of a one-time service charge of ten dollars in addition to the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article, and (b) submission of proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the applicant is presently a member of the veterans organization for which such plate is requested. Such membership shall be verified annually by the applicant. Application for such plates shall be made in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner with respect to the issuance of such plates. Provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to supersede the provisions of section four hundred four-d, four hundred four-e, four hundred four-h, four hundred four-i, four hundred four-j, four hundred four-k, four hundred four-p [or], four hundred four-aa, or four hundred four-dd of this article.

§ 3. 1. A distinctive plate established pursuant to section 404-dd of the vehicle and traffic law as added by section one of this act shall only be designed, produced and issued upon the delivery to the department of motor vehicles of a surety bond in the amount of six thousand dollars, which shall be executed by a surety company authorized by the department of financial services to transact business in this state. Provided, however, that if the commissioner of motor vehicles shall have received prior to plate design, production and issuance at least two hundred orders for such distinctive plate together with the additional one-time service charge applicable to each such order, which shall be non-refundable, no such surety bond shall be required. All service charges collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited pursuant to the provisions of section 404-oo of the vehicle and traffic law to the credit of the department of motor vehicles distinctive plate development fund established by section 95-g of the state finance law and shall be used for the design, production, advertising and distribution of distinctive license plates in accordance with such section 95-g.

2. If, upon the expiration of two years following the date upon which distinctive plates in the series are first available for sale two hundred or more sets of such plates are sold, a bond delivered pursuant to this section shall be discontinued. If fewer than two hundred sets of such plates are sold by such time, the department of motor vehicles shall be entitled to recover against the bond in an amount proportionate to such shortfall.

§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that section three of this act shall take effect immediately; provided further, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.