2012 -- S 2380

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LC01263

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF

VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Tassoni, Crowley, Bates, and Miller

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2012

     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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     31-3-92. Special plate for wildlife rehabilitators association of Rhode Island

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(WRARI). – (a) Legislative findings.- The wildlife rehabilitators association of Rhode Island is

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the only organization in Rhode Island providing care to our state’s wildlife and so are an asset to

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Rhode Island’s citizens and wild animals. In 2011, they cared for two thousand two hundred

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eighty two (2,282) animals and dealt with thousands of phone calls regarding wildlife in the state.

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They have just acquired land to build a permanent facility and will begin a capital campaign soon.

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The distribution to the wildlife rehabilitators association of Rhode Island shall be placed in a

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restricted account and shall be paid to the wildlife rehabilitators association Rhode Island

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

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special motor vehicle registration plates for the 501(c)(3) nonprofit wildlife rehabilitators

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association of Rhode Island.

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     (c) 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 the registration certificate for the plates shall be carried in the

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vehicle, in accordance with section 31-3-9. The registration certificate shall be in effect for the

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special plate.

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     (d) Wildlife rehabilitators association of Rhode Island motor vehicle plates shall be the

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same size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by the wildlife rehabilitators

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

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be approved by the Rhode Island state police.

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     (e) Wildlife rehabilitators association of Rhode Island plates shall be subject to a

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minimum pre-paid order of at least nine hundred (900) plates. Wildlife rehabilitators association

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of Rhode Island plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met.

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     (f) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall develop application forms,

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prepayment procedures and any other procedures deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of

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this section.

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     (g) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee. Wildlife

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rehabilitators association of Rhode Island plates shall be subject to a forty-one dollar and fifty

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cent ($41.50) issuance surcharge.

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     (h) The forty-one dollar and fifty cent ($41.50) issuance surcharge shall be allocated as

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follows: Twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be allocated to the general fund; One dollar and fifty cents

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($1.50) will be distributed to Rhode Island division of motor vehicles as a technical surcharge and

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the remaining twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be distributed annually to the wildlife rehabilitators

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association of Rhode Island to assist in the fiscal needs required to operate the wildlife clinic

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which provides care to all injured and orphaned wildlife in the state of Rhode Island at no cost,

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and to continue in the education of new wildlife rehabilitators also at no cost..

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     (i) Wildlife rehabilitators association of Rhode Island will be required to submit an

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annual financial statement before such monies are distributed.

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     (j) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of wildlife rehabilitators association of

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Rhode Island plates.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01263

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF

VEHICLES

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     This act would provide for the issuance of a special license plate benefitting the wildlife

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rehabilitators association of Rhode Island and would set the terms and conditions for same.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01263

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