Authorizes the issuance of distinctive license plates for recipients of the Bronze or Silver star and their spouses.

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S3391-2011 Actions

• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
• Feb 17, 2011: REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

S3391-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S3391

TITLE OF BILL:

An act
to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing
distinctive license plates for recipients of the Bronze or Silver
star

PURPOSE:

To provide distinctive license plates which recognize veterans who
have earned the Bronze Star or the Silver Star.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Adds a new section to the Vehicle and Traffic Law to authorize the
issuance of distinctive license plates which read "Bronze Star
Recipient" or "Silver Star Recipient." Includes provisions which are
applicable to other existing special license plates for veterans,
including authorization for plates in the name of the spouse of the
veteran and provision for a one-time $10 service charge.

EXISTING LAW:

The Vehicle and Traffic Law currently provides for numerous special
license plates for veterans and their families, such as Congressional
Medal of Honor recipients (sec. 404-p), former Prisoners of War (sec.
404-c), members of Organized Militia (sec. 404-d), Purple Heart
recipients (sec. 404-e), Jewish War veterans (sec. 404-h), Gold Star
Mothers (sec. 404-i), Pearl Harbor attack survivors (sec. 404-j),
Marine Corps League members (sec. 404-k), U.S. Naval Armed Guard
(sec. 404-v), Veterans of the War on Terror (sec. 404-w) and Persian
Gulf Veterans (sec. 404-w). In addition, the Department of Motor
Vehicles has administratively authorized plates honoring other
categories of veterans and military personnel.

JUSTIFICATION:

As our Nation continues to recognize and honor our veterans, there are
many people with justifiable pride in their military service and
honors. The Silver Star and the Bronze Star are military awards for
meritorious service, and recognize achievement on the part of the
veteran who is so honored. A wide variety of distinctive license
plates are already available for veterans and members of the
military, but not specifically for recipients of the Silver Star and
Bronze Star.
These individuals have been honored by their country with these
significant military awards, and it is appropriate that their service
be recognized with these special plates.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.4828 of 2009-10. The bill passed the Senate in 2005 (S.3565-A) and in
2004 (S.1658-B).


FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

The Department of Motor Vehicles has determined that there will be "no
significant revenue impact" and that the cost will be "negligible."
The veteran pays a $10 fee to defray the initial cost of producing
the special plate. The Department will be allocated $5,000 to offset
production costs.

LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

180 days after becoming a law.

S3391-2011 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                    3391

                         2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                              February 17, 2011
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sen.  FARLEY -- 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
    distinctive license plates for recipients of the Bronze or Silver star

    THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
  section 404-x to read as follows:

    S  404-X.  DISTINCTIVE PLATES FOR BRONZE OR SILVER STAR RECIPIENTS. 1.
  ANY RECIPIENT OF A BRONZE STAR OR A SILVER STAR RESIDING IN  THIS  STATE
  OR  THE  SPOUSE  OF  ANY SUCH RECIPIENT SHALL, UPON REQUEST, BE ISSUED A
  LICENSE PLATE BEARING THE WORDS "BRONZE STAR RECIPIENT" OR "SILVER  STAR
  RECIPIENT".  IF A DISTINCTIVE PLATE IS ISSUED TO A BRONZE OR SILVER STAR
  RECIPIENT  PURSUANT  TO THIS SECTION, SUCH A DISTINCTIVE PLATE SHALL NOT
  BE ISSUED TO THE SPOUSE OF SUCH RECIPIENT. 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 OR  THE  SPOUSE  OF
  THE APPLICANT IS A BRONZE OR SILVER STAR RECIPIENT.
    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,
  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT AN ADDITIONAL ONE-TIME  SERVICE  CHARGE  OF  TEN
  DOLLARS  SHALL  BE  CHARGED FOR SUCH PLATE.  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ONE
  YEAR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, FUNDS IN  THE  AMOUNT  OF
  FIVE  THOUSAND DOLLARS, OR SO MUCH THEREOF AS MAY BE AVAILABLE, SHALL BE
  ALLOCATED  TO  THE  DEPARTMENT  TO  OFFSET  COSTS  ASSOCIATED  WITH  THE
  PRODUCTION OF SUCH LICENSE PLATES.
    S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
  it shall have become a law.

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD05592-01-1