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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES --

SPECIAL PLATE FOR MASONIC GRAND LODGE CHARITIES OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, Potter, Caldwell, Carson, Casey, Filippi, and S
Lima

     Date Introduced: February 24, 2021

     Referred To: House Special Legislation

     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:

     31-3-121. Special plate for Masonic Grand Lodge Charities of Rhode Island.

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

special motor vehicle registration plates for the nonprofit, 501(c)(3) Rhode Island corporation the

Masonic Grand Lodge Charities of Rhode Island. The plates shall be designed to reference the

Masonic Grand Lodge Charities of Rhode Island.

     (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 Masonic Grand Lodge Charities of Rhode Island motor vehicle plates shall be the

same size as regular motor vehicle plates, and shall be designed by the Masonic Grand Lodge

Charities of Rhode Island in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the design

approved by the Rhode Island state police.

     (d) The Masonic Grand Lodge Charities of Rhode Island plates shall be subject to a

minimum pre-paid order of at least six hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type (i.e. passenger,

commercial, etc.). The Masonic Grand Lodge Charities of Rhode Island plates shall not be issued

unless the minimum order(s) requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the Masonic

Grand Lodge Charities of Rhode Island, 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 of the division of motor vehicles shall develop pre-payment

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 Masonic Grand

Lodge Charities of Rhode Island plates shall be subject to a forty dollar ($40.00) issuance

surcharge.

     (g) 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 the Masonic Grand Lodge Charities of Rhode Island to assist in

furtherance of its charitable work.

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

to the Masonic Grand Lodge Charities of Rhode Island.

     (i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of the Masonic Grand

Lodge Charities of Rhode Island license plates, the foundation must use any Rhode Island sourced

funds in, and for the benefit of, Rhode Island-based charitable organizations.

     (j) The Masonic Grand Lodge Charities of Rhode Island will be required to submit an

annual accounting report before such monies are distributed.

     (k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of the Masonic Grand Lodge Charities

of Rhode Island 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 --

SPECIAL PLATE FOR MASONIC GRAND LODGE CHARITIES OF RHODE ISLAND

***

     This act would authorize a special license plate for the Masonic Grand Lodge Charities of

Rhode Island, specify the minimum order, and govern the amount and distribution of the fee

surcharge.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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