2023 -- H 5954

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LC002237

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - REGISTRATION FEES

     Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Morales, Noret, Casimiro, Finkelman,
and Solomon

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2023

     Referred To: House Special Legislation

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-6-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-6 entitled "Registration

Fees" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-6-8. Disabled veterans.

     (a) Any veteran who has been honorably discharged from the service of the armed forces

or the merchant marine of the United States in any of the wars or campaigns in which the United

States has been engaged and who, while engaged in these wars or campaigns or as a result of

engagement in these wars or campaigns, by reason of amputation, has lost one or both of his or her

arms, hands, feet, or legs, or who, by reason of other permanent injury, has lost the use of one or

both of his or her arms, hands, feet, or legs, or to whom has been granted a motor vehicle under

chapter 870-2D, United States Public Laws 663, enacted 1946, 79th Congress, or has suitable

documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to establish that the veteran:

     (1) Has a combined service connected disability rating of one hundred percent (100%); or

     (2) Is considered “individually unemployable” due to his or her service-connected

disability, shall be exempt from the payment of any fee for the annual registration of and a license

to operate that motor vehicle.

     (b) The administrator for the division of motor vehicles shall issue to an eligible veteran

for use on an automobile any personal, or on a commercial vehicle having a gross weight of six

thousand three hundred pounds (6,300 lbs.) or less, vehicle they own or which are registered to any

business of which they wholly or in part own, registration plates designated “Disabled Veteran.”

The "Disabled Veteran" plates may be transferred to the veteran's spouse or caretaker during the

veteran's lifetime upon certification that the veteran is no longer able to operate their vehicle. Upon

the death of the holder of “Disabled Veteran” plates, the plates may be transferred to his or her

surviving spouse for his or her lifetime or until he or she remarries. Only one set of “Disabled

Veteran” plates shall be issued to an eligible veteran and only after certification of eligibility from

the Veterans’ Administration or other satisfactory documentation of eligibility is presented.

     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 FEES

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     This act would permit disabled veterans to be issued more than one set of disabled veteran

license plates, and would permit the plates to be transferred to their spouse or caretaker during the

veteran's life if they can no longer drive and would allow disabled veteran plates to be issued for a

commercial vehicle of any size.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC002237

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