2022 -- S 2248

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LC003883

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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 Sosnowski, Coyne, Euer, Seveney, and DiMario

     Date Introduced: February 08, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     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. 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 § 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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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 creates a special license plate for the not for profit Atlantic Shark Institute.

     This act would take effect six months after passage.

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LC003883

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