What's happening
This bill authorizes the issuance of special "Afghanistan Conflict Veteran" license plates to eligible veterans and their spouses.
Why it matters
Recognition and Visibility for Afghanistan Veterans. The bill acknowledges the service of veterans who served in Afghanistan since October 7, 2001, offering them (and their spouses) a visible way to display their service, which can foster community recognition and support.
Eligibility and Verification. Only veterans who are state residents and were honorably discharged are eligible, ensuring the plates are reserved for those who served in the Afghanistan conflict. Spouses can also apply, but only if the veteran has not already received a plate, preventing duplicate issuance for the same service member.
Financial Safeguards for State Costs. The law requires either a $6,000 surety bond or at least 200 pre-orders with service charges before the plate will be produced, safeguarding the state from financial loss related to design and manufacturing costs if there is low demand.
Support for DMV Programs. The one-time $10 service charge for each plate is directed to a special DMV fund used for the production, design, advertising, and marketing of distinctive license plates, potentially supporting broader DMV initiatives and specialty plate programs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Veteran Afghanistan License Plates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1423
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2507
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the issuance of distinctive plates for veterans of the Afghanistan conflict
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 404-y to read as follows:
§ 404-y. Distinctive plates for Afghanistan conflict veterans. 1. Any Afghanistan conflict veteran or the spouse of any such veteran shall, upon request, be issued a license plate bearing the words "Afghanistan Conflict Veteran". If a distinctive plate is issued to a veteran pursuant to this section, such a distinctive plate shall not be issued to the spouse of such veteran. Application for such license plate shall be filed with the commissioner in such form and detail as the commissioner shall prescribe.
2. The distinctive plate authorized in subdivision one of this section shall be issued upon proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the applicant or the spouse of the applicant is an Afghanistan conflict veteran.
3. For the purposes of this section, "Afghanistan conflict veteran" shall mean a person who is a resident of this state, who served in the armed forces of the United States in the hostilities that occurred in Afghanistan commencing on the seventh day of October, two thousand one, and were honorably discharged from the military.
4. 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. Such service charge shall be deposited pursuant to the provisions of section four hundred four-oo of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08185-01-7
S. 2507 2
this article to the credit of the department of motor vehicles distinctive plate development fund established by section ninety-five-g of the state finance law and shall be used for the production, design, advertising and marketing of distinctive license plates pursuant to such section ninety-five-g.
5. Nothing contained herein shall require the issuance of a special number plate under this section unless the commissioner is satisfied that the aggregate amount of annual service charges collected pursuant to subdivision four of this section will be sufficient to recover the costs of the design and manufacture of such special plates.
§ 2. 1. A distinctive plate established pursuant to section 404-y 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 annual service charge applicable to each such order, which shall be non-refundable, no such surety bond shall be required. All such service charges 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, such department shall be entitled to recover against the bond in an amount proportionate to such shortfall.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that section one of this act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; 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 are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the issuance of distinctive plates for veterans of the Afghanistan conflict
Purpose or general idea of bill
Any veteran who resides in this State shall upon request, be issued a license plate bearing the words "Afghanistan Conflict Veteran." Application for the license plate shall be filed with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in such form and detail as the Commissioner shall prescribe.
The distinctive plate shall be issued upon proof, satisfactory to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.
Justification
From the earliest days of the colonial period to the present, men and women have served as underappreciated heroes in every war and countless "unofficial" skirmishes and conflicts throughout the history of our nation. The issuance of distinctive license plates is a small way to recognize the contributions of veterans' participation in conflicts large and small, from the earliest days of unrest to the present day operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as recognizing their services during peacetime. These veterans are proud of their participation in combat and should have the opportunity, like countless others who have served our country, to demonstrate that pride. We should commemorate those who have made contributions or set precedents for future public service, as well as honor those who on a daily basis protect the rights and freedoms of our nation and state.
Prior legislative history
S.1969 of 2005/2006 S.593 of 2007/2008 S.2399 of 2009/2010 S.475 of 2011/2012, S.4931 of 2013/2014 S.1953-A of 2015/2016
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which is shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.