Chapter 353

2009 -- S 0920

Enacted 11/13/09

A N A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES

Introduced By: Senators Paiva-Weed, Tassoni, Algiere, Sosnowski, and Bates

Date Introduced: May 14, 2009

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 31-3-79 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration

of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

31-3-79. Special plate for Audubon Society of Rhode Island/Save the Bay. -- (a) The

administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available special motor

vehicle registration plates based upon two (2) not-for-profit entities, the Audubon Society of

Rhode Island and Save the Bay. The plate shall be designed to reference both entities.

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

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

special plate.

      (c) The Audubon Society of Rhode Island/Save the Bay motor vehicle plates shall be the

same size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed in conjunction with the division of

motor vehicles.

      (d) Audubon Society of Rhode Island/Save the Bay plates shall be subject to a minimum

pre-paid order of at least nine hundred (900) plates. Audubon Society of Rhode Island/Save the

Bay plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met.

      (e) The administrator of motor vehicles shall develop application forms, 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, Audubon Society

of Rhode Island/Save the Bay 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 and equally; ten dollars ($10.00) per plate to the Audubon Society of

Rhode Island; and ten dollars ($10.00) per plate to Save the Bay, to assist the Audubon Society of

Rhode Island and Save the Bay in furtherance of their mission of preserving the state's natural

scenic beauty, fish and wildlife, and to continue the educational efforts of these respective

entities. The distributions to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and Save the Bay shall be

placed in separate restricted accounts for each entity and shall be paid to the Audubon Society of

Rhode Island and Save the Bay.

(h) A ten dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated

equally; five dollars ($5.00) per registration to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island; and five

dollars ($5.00) per registration to Save the Bay.

(h)(i) Both the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and Save the Bay will be required to

submit an annual audit, prepared by a certified public accountant before such monies are

distributed.

(i)(j) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Audubon Society of Rhode

Island/Save the Bay plates.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02568

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