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:

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

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Center of Rhode Island.

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

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

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

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

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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 returned to the division of motor vehicles. The registration certificate

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for the plates shall be carried in the vehicle in accordance with § 31-3-9. The registration certificate

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shall be in effect for the special plate.

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     (c) The Choose Life motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle

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

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

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Island state police.

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

 

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

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

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

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Pregnancy Center Rhode Island and shall not be submitted to the division of motor vehicles for

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production until the minimum order(s) have been met and the proper paper work submitted to the

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division.

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

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

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     (f) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, Choose Life Rhode

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

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     (g) 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 CareNet - Rhode Island d/b/a CareNet Pregnancy Center of Rhode

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

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pursuant to chapter 13.1 of title 23.

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

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

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

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

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

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organizations.

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     (j) CareNet - Rhode Island d/b/a CareNet Pregnancy Center of Rhode Island will be

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required to submit an annual accounting report before such monies are distributed.

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     (k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Choose Life Rhode Island plates.

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     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

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

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Center Rhode Island.

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

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