What's happening
This bill updates vehicle license plates for Medal of Honor recipients by removing the word "congressional" from the plate and related law.
Why it matters
Clarifies official terminology. By removing "congressional" from the license plate and related law, the bill aligns New York law with the official name of the "Medal of Honor," reducing confusion and reflecting accurate recognition for recipients.
Simplifies and standardizes recognition. The change eliminates outdated or incorrect references, ensuring that state-issued honors and documentation match federal standards and the preferences of the Medal of Honor recipient community.
Protects existing recipients. The bill ensures that anyone with the previous "Congressional Medal of Honor" plates can keep or exchange them at no cost, and that their plates remain valid, minimizing any inconvenience to honorees.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Honor Medal Plates Approved
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to insurance
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.758
- Reported and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1468
Show 2 earlier actions
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
123
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- 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 distinctive plates for medal of honor recipients
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 404-p of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 486 of the laws of 1996, subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 415 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
§ 404-p. Distinctive plates for [congressional] medal of honor recipients. 1. Any [congressional] medal of honor recipient residing in this state shall, upon request, be issued a license plate bearing the words "[congressional] medal of honor". 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 [congressional] medal of honor recipient.
3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates, provided, however, that no registration fee or service charge shall be charged for such plate.
§ 2. Distinctive plates issued pursuant to section 404-p of the vehicle and traffic law prior to the amendment of such section made by section one of this act shall be reissued to any person assigned such plate upon such person's request. No fee or service charge shall be charged for the reissuance of such plate. Provided, however, that notwithstanding the provisions of section one of this act, nothing contained in this act shall be deemed to invalidate "Congressional Medal of Honor" distinctive license plates issued prior to the effective date of this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02371-01-9
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 distinctive plates for medal of honor recipients
Purpose of the bill
Corrects an error on distinctive plates for medal of honor recipients.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends section 404-p of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to provide for distinctive plates for medal of honor recipients.
Section 2 provides for the reissuance of distinctive plates provided under section 404-p of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, upon such person's request, at no fee or service charge. For those not wishing to receive a new corrected license plate, the "Congressional Medal of Honor" distinc- tive license plate issued prior to the effective date shall still be valid.
Section 3 provides the effective date.
Justification
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles issues distinctive plates to New York State residents upon request, including a plate bear- ing the words "Congressional Medal of Honor." The proper name for this prestigious award, however, is the "Medal of Honor," ad indicated by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. This legislation would correct this error and provide for the reissuance of this distinctive plate at no fee or service charge.
Prior legislative history
S. 706A of 2017/2018 passed Senate 2013-2014. A.4848/S.3009. S. 2966A/A. 6237 Passed Senate in 2015 and 2016.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it 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.