What's happening
This bill creates a "Cure Childhood Cancer" license plate and establishes a trust fund to support childhood cancer research and care.
Why it matters
Directs new funding to pediatric cancer care and research. The bill earmarks proceeds from the license plate's annual service charges (beyond initial development costs) for childhood cancer research, education, and patient support, potentially providing a stable, ongoing source of revenue for these initiatives.
Broadens support for affected children and families. The trust fund can be used not only for research but also for a wide range of care and wellness services—such as physical/occupational therapy, art therapy, and counseling—addressing quality of life and holistic needs for children with cancer.
Prioritizes transparency and oversight in fund allocation. Disbursements from the trust fund require recommendations from the Commissioner of Health and approval by the State Comptroller and Attorney General, aiming to ensure responsible, well-vetted use of public donations.
Facilitates partnerships across medical and community organizations. Funding can go to state health centers, university hospitals, integrative medical facilities, and community-based nonprofits, encouraging collaboration and potentially expanding the reach of support services and awareness programs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Cancer Awareness Plates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
855
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sens. MONTGOMERY, ADDABBO -- 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 authorizing the issuance of license plates bearing the words "Cure Childhood Cancer"; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the cure childhood cancer trust 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. Distinctive "Cure Childhood Cancer" plates. 1. Any person residing in this state shall upon request be issued a distinctive plate bearing the words "Cure Childhood Cancer". Application for such plates shall be filed with the commissioner in such form and detail as the commissioner shall prescribe.
2. Any 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 fifty dollars shall be charged for such plate. Such annual service charge shall be deposited pursuant to the provisions of section four hundred four-oo of 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; provided, however, that annual service charges collected in excess of four thousand dollars shall be deposited to the credit of the "cure childhood cancer trust fund" established pursuant to section ninety-nine-ff of the state finance law and shall be used for childhood cancer research and educa-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02942-01-9
S. 855 2
tion projects approved by the commissioner of health or to provide grants to state university of New York health science centers or university hospitals for the purpose of researching and promoting a cure for childhood cancer, pursuant to such section ninety-nine-ff.
§ 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-ff to read as follows:
§ 99-ff. Cure childhood cancer trust fund. 1. There is hereby established in the joint custody of the commissioner of taxation and finance and the comptroller, a special fund to be known as the "cure childhood cancer trust 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. Monies of the fund shall be expended for pediatric cancer care, treatment and wellness to include, but not be limited to physical and occupational therapy, art therapy, counseling, research grants and educational projects. Such funds will be expended through a grant process created by and on the recommendation of the commissioner of health to integrative medical facilities, state of New York health centers, university hospitals or community-based not-for-profit organizations that operate childhood cancer awareness and support programs.
4. Monies shall be payable from the fund on vouchers recommended by the commissioner of health, after audit and approval by the state comptroller and office of the attorney general.
5. To the extent practicable, the commissioner of health shall ensure that all monies received during a fiscal year are expended prior to the end of that fiscal year.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, 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 authorizing the issuance of license plates bearing the words "Cure Childhood Cancer"; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the cure childhood cancer trust fund
Purpose or general idea of bill
To create a "Cure Childhood Cancer Trust Fund" that will support pedia- tric cancer care, research, treatment, and wellness programs.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Adds a new section 404-ff to the vehicle and traffic law to authorize the creation of distinctive plate bearing the words "Cure Childhood Cancer".
Requires an additional annual service charge of $50 for each set of plates issued. The annual service charge would be deposited in the distinctive plate development fund maintained by the department of motor vehicles, and used for the production, design, advertising and marketing of distinctive license plates. Any service charges collected in excess of $4,000 would be deposited in a "cure childhood cancer trust fund" and used for pediatric cancer research and education projects approved by the commissioner of health.
Section 2. Adds a new section 99-ff to the state finance law that estab- lishes the Cure Childhood Cancer Fund, which shall be established in the joint custody of the commissioner of taxation and finance and the comp- troller. Funds will be expended after approval by the state comptroller and the office of the attorney generally. Funding, made available through a competitive grants process and upon the recommendation of the commissioner of health, would be available for pediatric cancer care, treatment, and wellness projects including but not limited to physical and occupational therapy, art therapy, counseling, research grants and educational projects.
Applicants for funding would include integrative medical facilities, state of New York health centers, university hospitals, and communi- ty.-based not-for-profit organizations that operate childhood cancer awareness and support programs.
Justification
According to the National Cancer Institute, it estimated that 15,780 children and adolescents ages 0 to 19 years will be diagnosed with cancer nationwide in a given year and 1,960 will die of the disease in the United States. Cancer is one of the most common chronic diseases in New York State, and is second only to heart disease as the leading cause of death. Each year, about 100,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with cancer. According to the NYS Department of Health's Cancer Registry, between 2007-2011, 240 cases of pediatric cancer were reported per every 1,000,000 children up to age four. It is against this backdrop of infor- mation that the Cure Childhood Cancer fund will help enhance research efforts and raise community awareness about childhood cancer.
Prior legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
Minimal, with annual service charge revenues generated in excess of $4,000 being devoted to pediatric cancer care, treatment, and wellness programs.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.