Chapter 322
2022 -- H 6633 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 07/06/2022

A N   A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

Introduced By: Representatives Fogarty, Alzate, Hawkins, Kazarian, Tanzi, Shallcross Smith, Hull, McEntee, Messier, and Ajello

Date Introduced: January 06, 2022

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:
     31-3-122 3-3-126. Special plate for Atlantic Shark Institute.
     (a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available
special motor vehicle registration plates for the nonprofit Atlantic Shark Institute. The plates shall
be designed to reference Atlantic Shark Institute.
     (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 ยง 31-3-9. The registration certificate
shall be in effect for the special plate.
     (c) Atlantic Shark Institute motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular motor
vehicle plates, and shall be designed by Atlantic Shark Institute in conjunction with the division of
motor vehicles, with the design approved by the Rhode Island state police.
     (d) Atlantic Shark Institute 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.). Atlantic Shark
Institute plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order(s) requirements are met. The initial
order will be handled by Atlantic Shark Institute 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 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, Atlantic Shark
Institute 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 Atlantic Shark Institute to assist in the fiscal needs and in
furtherance of its mission.
     (h) A ten-dollar ($10) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals will go to Atlantic
Shark Institute.
     (i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of Atlantic Shark Institute
plates, the organization must use any Rhode Island-sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode
Island-based charitable organizations.
     (j) Atlantic Shark Institute will be required to submit an annual accounting report before
such monies are distributed.
     (k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Atlantic Shark Institute motor vehicle
license plates.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect six months after passage.
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LC003590/SUB A
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