2022 -- S 2141

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Senators Archambault, F Lombardi, McCaffrey, and Coyne

     Date Introduced: January 25, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-3-117 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration

of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-3-117. Minimum prepaid special motor vehicle registration plate orders.

     (a) As to any special motor vehicle registration plates that have been authorized pursuant

to this chapter but that have not been issued or printed as of July 2, 2018, because the minimum

number of prepaid orders for the plates has not been reached, the minimum number of plates that

must be prepaid and ordered prior to the plates being made and issued shall be deemed to be six

hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type. If the minimum number of prepaid plates provided

pursuant to any other section of this chapter is a higher number, that number shall be deemed

reduced to six hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type.

     (b) As to any special plates that are authorized pursuant to this chapter after July 2, 2018,

the minimum number of plates that must be prepaid and ordered prior to the plates being made and

issued shall be six hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type.

     (c)(1) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the minimum number of

prepaid orders for special motor vehicle registration plates that either have been authorized pursuant

to this chapter, but have not been issued or printed as of the effective date of this act, because the

minimum number of prepaid orders for the plates has not been reached or are authorized pursuant

to this chapter after the effective date of this act, may be reduced to one hundred fifty (150) sets of

plates per plate type if the applicable sponsoring nonprofit entity delivers to the division of motor

vehicles:

     (i) Orders for a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) sets of plates per plate type; and

     (ii) A nonrefundable payment of thirteen thousand five hundred dollars ($13,500) for each

plate type that has met the one hundred fifty (150) sets of plates threshold.

     (2) The portion of the applicable sponsoring nonprofit entity's issuance surcharge that is to

be allocated to the general fund shall be deemed paid for the first six hundred (600) sets of plates

per plate type issued by the payment of the thirteen thousand five hundred dollar ($13,500)

nonrefundable payment.

     (3) The division of motor vehicles shall make available plates eligible for issuance pursuant

to subsection (c)(1) of this section, no later than six (6) months after receipt of the orders and the

thirteen thousand five hundred dollar ($13,500) nonrefundable payment; provided, however, that

if multiple orders and thirteen thousand five hundred dollar ($13,500) nonrefundable payments are

received from different sponsoring nonprofit entities, the division of motor vehicles shall be

afforded no more than six (6) months for each separate plate that becomes eligible for issuance and

may complete the work necessary for the issuance of one order at a time in the order of receipt.

     (4) The ability of applicable sponsoring nonprofit entities to reduce the minimum number

of prepaid orders to one hundred fifty (150) sets of plates per plate type pursuant to subsection

(c)(1) of this section shall expire on December 31, 2025. The division of motor vehicles shall

complete the work necessary for issuance of all plates for which it receives the required orders and

thirteen thousand five hundred dollars ($13,500.00) nonrefundable payments on or before

December 31, 2024, in accordance with subsection (c)(3) of this section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon 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 provide that a prepaid special motor vehicle registration plate order will be

processed if the plate sponsoring nonprofit entity makes a nonrefundable payment of thirteen

thousand five hundred dollars ($13,500) to the state which would enable the issuance of their

proposal specialty plate, when the minimum statutorily required orders for the plates, have not been

met.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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