2014 -- S 2938

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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:

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

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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

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

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

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

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

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less.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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under such terms and conditions as the administrator may permit.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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with design approval by the Rhode Island State Police.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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supportive services necessary to their well-being."

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

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to Operation Support RI Troops.

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

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

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Rhode Island based charitable organizations.

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

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before such monies are distributed.

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

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plates.

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     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

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

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

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

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supportive services.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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