What's happening
This bill creates a special New York license plate to honor Eagle Scouts, available for an extra fee.
Why it matters
Celebrates youth achievement and community service. By creating a license plate specifically for Eagle Scouts, the bill publicly recognizes and honors individuals who have attained the highest rank in Boy Scouts, which often involves significant community service projects and leadership.
Provides a new fundraising stream for the DMV. The required $25 one-time service charge (in addition to normal registration fees) will go into a fund designated for the design, production, advertising, and distribution of specialty plates, helping offset costs and potentially supporting further plate development.
Includes safeguards to ensure demand and prevent waste. The bill requires at least 200 preorders (or a $6,000 surety bond) before the plate is produced, aiming to ensure there’s enough interest to justify the expense and prevent the state from creating inventory that isn’t wanted.
Engages the Boy Scouts of America in the process. The plate’s design must be approved in consultation with the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America, ensuring authenticity and appropriate representation of the Eagle Scout honor.
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Who cares
New York motorists
Residents could request an Eagle Scout plate by paying the regular registration fee and a one-time $25 service charge, without having to be Eagle Scouts themselves.
National Council of the Boy Scouts of America
The council would be consulted on the plate design honoring Eagle Scouts.
Department of Motor Vehicles
DMV would administer applications and plate production, subject to a $6,000 surety bond requirement unless it receives at least 200 advance orders with the applicable nonrefundable service charges.
Authorized surety companies
They could provide the required bond, which DMV could draw against proportionately if fewer than 200 plate sets sell within two years of availability.
Headline styles
Create Eagle Scout License Plate
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 59–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1956
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Create Eagle Scout License Plate
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Michael Durso
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
287
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sens. RHOADS, OBERACKER, PALUMBO, STEC, WEBER, WEIK -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 establishing a distinctive plate honoring Eagle Scouts
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 Eagle Scout plates. 1. Any person residing in this state shall, upon request, be issued a distinctive plate in support of the Eagle Scouts of a design approved by the commissioner in consultation with the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
2. An application for such 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 payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article and an initial one time service charge of twenty-five dollars shall be charged for such plates.
§ 2. 1. A distinctive plate established pursuant to section 404-ff 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 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01056-01-5
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. 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 to be made 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 establishing a distinctive plate honoring Eagle Scouts
Purpose
Amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law to allow for distinctive plates for Eagle Scouts
Summary of provisions
Section l.the vehicle and traffic Law is amended by adding a new section 404-ff
Subdivision 1, any person residing within New York State, upon request, be issued a distinctive plate in support of the Eagle Scouts.
Subdivision 2, an application for such plate be filed with the commis- sioner as commissioner shall prescribe.
Subdivision 3, Establishes that the plate will be issued in the same manner as other numbered license plates upon the payment of the regular registration fee and an initial one time service charge of twenty-five dollars.
Section 2. states that a distinctive plate can only be designed, produced and issued upon the delivery to the department of a surety bond in the amount of six thousand dollars. However if the Commissioner receives prior to the plate design at least two hundred orders with the annual service charge, no such surety bond will be required.
Subdivision 2, deems that 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 would be discontinued. If fewer than two hundred sets are sold, the department would be enti- tled to recover against the bond in an amount propor- tionate to such shortfall.
Section 3 sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Currently, The State of New York makes available many different distinc- tive license plates to members of various groups. As such, this legis- lation would make it possible for Eagle Scouts to display the accom- plishment of many years of dedication to complete the seven different ranks culminating with being awarded the rank of Eagle Scout.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.