2017 -- S 0356 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Goodwin, Sosnowski, Miller, and Pearson

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2017

     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:

     31-3-112. Special plate for the Ocean State Animal Coalition.

     (a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available a

special motor vehicle registration plate for the Ocean State Animal Coalition.

     (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 returned to the division of motor vehicles. 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.

     (c) The Ocean State Animal Coalition 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 the design approved by the Rhode Island state police.

     (d) The Ocean State Animal Coalition motor vehicle plates shall be subject to a minimum

pre-paid order of at least nine hundred (900) sets of plates per plate type. The Ocean State Animal

Coalition plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial

order shall be handled by the Ocean State Animal Coalition, and shall not be submitted to the

division of motor vehicles for production until the minimum order(s) have been met, and the

proper paperwork submitted to the division.

     (e) The administrator shall develop prepayment procedures and any other procedures

deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

     (f) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, the Ocean State

Animal Coalition motor vehicle plates shall be subject to a forty dollar ($40) issuance surcharge.

     (g) The forty dollar ($40) issuance surcharge shall be allocated as follows: twenty dollars

($20) shall be allocated to the general fund, and the remaining twenty dollars ($20) shall be

distributed annually to the Ocean State Animal Coalition in furtherance of its mission to improve

the status and well-being of animals in Rhode Island, including subsidizing spay and neuter

services for cats and dogs.

     (h) The Ocean State Animal Coalition shall distribute the funds it receives as referenced

in subsection (g) of this section to Rhode Island-based municipal animal shelters and other

humane organizations pursuant to procedures developed in accordance with subsection (e) of this

section.

     (i) The Ocean State Animal Coalition shall be required to submit an annual accounting

report before such monies are distributed.

     (j) A ten dollar ($10) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated to

the Ocean State Animal Coalition.

     (k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Ocean State Animal Coalition

motor vehicle 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 create the Ocean State Animal Coalition motor vehicle plate to help raise

revenue and subsidize spay and neuter services for cats and dogs.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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