2023 -- S 0431

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LC001514

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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 OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Senators E Morgan, de la Cruz, and DeLuca

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2023

     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:

     31-3-127. Special plate for Choose Life -- CareNet - Rhode Island -CareNet Pregnancy

Center of Rhode Island.

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

special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity, CareNet - Rhode Island d/b/a

CareNet Pregnancy Center of Rhode Island. The plates shall be designed to reference the not-for-

profit entity CareNet - Rhode Island d/b/a CareNet Pregnancy Center 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 Choose Life motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle

plates and shall be designed by Care-Net - Rhode Island d/b/a CareNet Pregnancy Center of Rhode

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

Island state police.

     (d) The Choose Life plates shall be subject to a compliance with § 31-3-117 relating to the

number of minimum pre-paid order of plates per plate type (i.e. passenger, commercial, etc.) and

any required payment. The Choose Life plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order

requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the CareNet - Rhode Island d/b/a CareNet

Pregnancy Center 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 paper work submitted to the

division.

     (e) The administrator of motor vehicles 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, Choose Life 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 CareNet - Rhode Island d/b/a CareNet Pregnancy Center of Rhode

Island to support the alternative choices of infant adoption and The Safe Haven for Infants Act,

pursuant to chapter 13.1 of title 23.

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

to CareNet - Rhode Island d/b/a CareNet Pregnancy Center of Rhode Island.

     (i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of Choose Life Rhode

Island plates, CareNet - Rhode Island d/b/a CareNet Pregnancy Center of Rhode Island must use

any Rhode Island sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode Island based charitable

organizations.

     (j) CareNet - Rhode Island d/b/a CareNet Pregnancy Center 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 Choose Life Rhode Island plates.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect six (6) months after 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 special license plates in

recognition of Choose Life and in support of CareNet - Rhode Island d/b/a CareNet Pregnancy

Center Rhode Island.

     This act would take effect six (6) months after passage.

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