2013 -- S 0053

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LC00231

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES -

GOLD STAR FAMILY PLATE

     Introduced By: Senators Kettle, Ottiano, Cote, Bates, and E O`Neill

     Date Introduced: January 16, 2013

     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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     31-3-94. Special plate for gold star families. – (a) The administrator of the division of

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motor vehicles is empowered to make available a special motor vehicle registration plate for gold

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star family members. For the purpose of this section, “Gold star family members” are defined as a

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biological parent, stepparent, adoptive parent, spouse, sibling or child of a member of the United

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States armed services who lost his or her life while on active duty.

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     (b) A gold star family, plate may be issued for any motor vehicle eligible for registration

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as an automobile, or for any motorcycle eligible for registration as a motorcycle, or for a

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commercial vehicle having a gross weight of ten thousand one pounds (10,001lbs.) or less.

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     (c) In addition to the registration number and other markings or identification otherwise

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prescribed by law, the gold star family license plate shall display a gold star and the words “gold

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star family”. The design shall be reviewed and approved by the state police.

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     (d) The applicant shall be required to pay a service charge of twenty dollars ($20.00) and

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a transfer charge of five dollars ($5.00) for each plate.

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      (e) The applicant shall be entitled to a plate for each vehicle owned by the applicant

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upon payment of an additional service charge and/or transfer charge for each vehicle.

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     (f) The gold star family plate 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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     (g) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall develop application forms,

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pre-payment procedures and any other procedures deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of

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this section. In order to be deemed complete, an application shall be accompanied by proof

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satisfactory to the administrator that the applicant is a family member of the United States armed

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services member who died while on active duty. Satisfactory proof may include any or all of the

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following:

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     (1) A certification from the Rhode Island department of American Gold Star Mothers

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Inc., or any other organization formed for the support of parents of members of the armed

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services who lost their lives while on active duty for the United States, that the applicant is either

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the spouse, parent, brother, sister or child of a member of the United States armed services who

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died while on active duty;

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     (2) Documentation deemed acceptable by the administrator, including, but not limited to,

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a federal DD form 1300, report of casualty, which identifies the member of the armed services

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who died while on active duty for the United States; and

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     (3) Documentation indicating the applicant’s relationship to the service member.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00231

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES -

GOLD STAR FAMILY PLATE

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     This act would provide for the issuance of a gold star family license plate for family

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members of servicemen and servicewomen who died while on active duty.

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     This at would take effect upon passage.

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LC00231

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