2024 -- H 7539

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LC004775

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Bennett, Perez, Batista, and Shanley

     Date Introduced: February 07, 2024

     Referred To: House Special Legislation

     (by request)

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:

     31-3-127. Special plate for The Preservation Society of Rhode Island.

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

special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity, The Preservation Society of

Rhode Island. The plates shall be designed to reference the not-for-profit entity The Preservation

Society of Rhode Island.

     (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) The Preservation Society of Rhode Island motor vehicle plates shall be the same size

as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by The Preservation Society of Rhode Island

in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the design approved by the Rhode Island

state police.

     (d) The Preservation Society of Rhode Island plates shall be subject to compliance with §

31-3-117 relating to the number of minimum pre-paid order of plates per plate type (i.e. passenger,

commercial, etc.) and any required payment. The Preservation Society of Rhode Island plates shall

not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by

The Preservation Society of Rhode Island and shall not be submitted to the division of motor

vehicles for production until the minimum order(s) have been met and the proper paper work

submitted to the division.

     (e) The administrator of motor vehicles shall develop prepayment 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, The Preservation

Society of Rhode Island 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 The Preservation Society of Rhode Island in furtherance of its

mission to preserve and protect cultural, historical, and regionally significant buildings, places,

environments, art, documents and artifacts.

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

to The Preservation Society of Rhode Island.

     (i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of The Preservation Society

of Rhode Island plates, The Preservation Society of Rhode Island must use any Rhode Island

sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode Island based charitable organizations.

     (j) The Preservation Society of Rhode Island will be required to submit an annual

accounting report before such monies are distributed.

     (k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of The Preservation Society of Rhode

Island plates.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect six (6) 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 would authorize the division of motor vehicles to issue special license plates in

recognition and support of The Preservation Society of Rhode Island.

     This act would take effect six (6) months after passage.

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