2014 -- S 2938

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LC005257

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Senator Stephen R.Archambault

     Date Introduced: April 30, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     31-3-101. Special plate for Operation Support RI Troops. – (a) The administrator of

the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available special motor vehicle registration

plates for passenger vehicles based upon the recommendation of the department of human

services division of veterans services for any motor vehicle eligible for registration as an

automobile or commercial vehicle having a gross weight of ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) or

less.

     (b) The special plate shall be displayed upon the same registration number assigned to the

vehicle for which it was issued and shall be used in place of and in the same manner as the

registration plates issued to the vehicle. The original registration plates for the vehicle shall be

removed from the vehicle and the registration certificate for the plates shall be carried in the

vehicle, in accordance with § 31-3-9. The registration certificate shall be in effect for the special

plate. The administrator shall be authorized to retain newly issued plate numbers, at his or her

discretion, for the purpose of conducting auctions of the right to use and display those numbers

under such terms and conditions as the administrator may permit.

     (c) Auction proceeds shall be apportioned and distributed for charitable purposes, in the

discretion of the administrator, in accordance with such agreements as may be entered into with

those entities holding ownership rights to the logos. The administrator is hereby authorized to

enter into agreements for the use of logos on Rhode Island administration plates.

     (d) Operation Support RI Troops motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular

motor vehicle plates and shall be designed in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles,

with design approval by the Rhode Island State Police.

     (e) Operation Support RI Troops plates shall be subject to a minimum pre-paid order of at

least nine hundred (900) plates. Operation Support RI Troops plates shall not be issued unless the

minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by Operation Support RI

Troops and shall not be submitted to the division of motor vehicles for the production until the

minimum order has been met and the proper paperwork submitted to the division. Subsequent

Operation Support RI Troops plate orders will be handled by the division of motor vehicles.

     (f) The administrator of motor vehicles shall develop application forms, prepayment

procedures and any other procedures deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

     (g) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, Operation Support

RI Troops plates shall be subject to a forty dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge.

     (h) The forty dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge shall be allocated as follows: twenty

dollars ($20.00) shall be allocated to the general fund and the remaining twenty dollars ($20.00)

shall be distributed annually to Operation Support RI Troops in furtherance of its mission to

"support our troops: in helping struggling and homeless veterans by offering housing and

supportive services necessary to their well-being."

     (i) A ten dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated

to Operation Support RI Troops.

     (j) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of Operation Support RI

Troops plates, the organization must use any Rhode Island sourced funds in and for the benefit of

Rhode Island based charitable organizations.

     (k) Operation Support RI Troops will be required to submit an annual accounting report

before such monies are distributed.

     (l) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Operation Support RI Troops

plates.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

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     This act would authorize the division of motor vehicles to issue motor vehicle registration

plates for automobiles and/or commercial vehicles having a gross weight of ten thousand pounds

(10,000 lbs.) or less for the financial benefit of Operation Support RI Troops in support of the

organization’s mission to assist struggling and homeless veterans by offering them housing and

supportive services.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005257

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