What's happening
This bill creates a congenital heart disease awareness license plate, with proceeds funding research and education through a new state fund.
Why it matters
Raises public awareness. By allowing residents to display “Congenital Heart Disease Awareness” license plates, the bill makes congenital heart disease (CHD) more visible, potentially reducing stigma and increasing understanding of a condition that affects many families.
Directs funds to targeted research and education. The $25 annual service fee for these plates is earmarked specifically for a new state fund, ensuring that money raised is used only for CHD research and education, not for general state expenses.
Supports scientific advancement and public health. The fund can receive additional donations and grants, amplifying its impact, and all expenditures must be approved by the Department of Health—helping ensure that supported projects are scientifically sound and benefit New Yorkers.
Creates a sustainable funding mechanism. This approach leverages ongoing public interest and participation (through license plate renewals) to provide a continuous, dedicated revenue stream for CHD initiatives, rather than relying solely on unpredictable state appropriations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Heart Disease Plates Fund
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to rules
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6619
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
July 3, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MAYER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing the issuance of congenital heart disease awareness license plates; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the congenital heart disease research and education fund
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-ff to read as follows:
§ 404-ff. Congenital heart disease awareness license plates. 1. Any person residing in this state shall, upon request, be issued a distinctive license plate in support of congenital heart disease awareness and research bearing the phrase "Congenital Heart Disease Awareness" and any other phrases and design approved by the commissioner.
2. An application for such license plate shall be filed with the commissioner in such form and detail as the commissioner shall prescribe.
3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon the payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article; provided, however, that an additional annual service charge of twenty-five dollars shall be charged for such plates. Such additional annual service charge shall be deposited to the credit of the congenital heart disease research and education fund established pursuant to section ninety-nine-hh of the state finance law and shall be used for the purposes specified in such section.
§ 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-hh to read as follows:
§ 99-hh. Congenital heart disease research and education fund. 1. There is hereby established in the joint custody of the commissioner of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13473-01-9
S. 6619 2
taxation and finance and the comptroller a fund to be known as the "congenital heart disease research and education fund".
2. Such fund shall consist of all revenues received pursuant to the provisions of section four hundred four-ff of the vehicle and traffic law and all other moneys appropriated, credited or transferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts or bequests for the purposes of the fund as defined in this section and depositing them into the fund according to law.
3. Moneys of the fund shall be expended only for congenital heart disease research projects approved by the department of health in New York state. As used in this section, the term "congenital heart disease research and education projects" means scientific research into the causes, prevention, screening, treatment and cure of congenital heart disease.
4. Moneys shall be payable from the fund on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers approved and certified by the commissioner of health.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
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 authorizing the issuance of congenital heart disease aware- ness license plates; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the congenital heart disease research and education fund
Purpose
To allow for the department of motor vehicles to issue distinctive congenital heart disease awareness license plates for an additional service charge. The proceeds from the additional service charge will be deposited in the congenital heart disease research and education fund established by this law.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 404-ff to allow for the issuance of a distinctive license plate in support of congenital heart disease awareness and research bearing the phrase "Congenital Heart Disease Awareness"; the application for the license plate will be established by the commissioner and an additional annual twenty-five dollar service charge for each license plate shall be deposited into the congenital heart disease research and education fund.
Section 2: The State Finance law is amended by adding anew section 99-hh, which establishes a congenital heart disease research and educa- tion fund and explains the distribution and oversight of such funds.
Section 3: Establishes the effective date.
Justification
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most under-recognized diseases in the world. With 1-in-100 babies born with some type of CHD, more people have a CHD than any other disease. Dorian Hope Solimano, a nine year old Yonkers resident, was born with congenital heart disease. Like many children and adults with CHD, she has been unable to partic- ipate in many activities and experiences many day-to-day challenges.
This legislation will help raise awareness and expand much needed research concerning this common disease.
Legislative history
2018: A9972 (Mayer) No Same as
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth 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.