2024 -- S 2241

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LC004334

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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: Senators Euer, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: January 24, 2024

     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:

     31-3-127. Special plate for the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.

     (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, Newport Festivals Foundation,

Inc. The plates shall be designed to reference the not-for-profit entity Newport Festivals

Foundation, Inc.

     (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 Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as

regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. in

conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, and which license plate design shall include

references to both the Newport Folk and Newport Jazz festivals with the design approved by the

Rhode Island state police.

     (d) The Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. plates shall be subject to a 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 Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. plates shall

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

the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. 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, Newport Festivals

Foundation, Inc. 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 Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. to preserve the historic

Newport Jazz and folk Festivals and provide access to music education programs in Rhode Island

to ensure that every person can experience the benefits of music.

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

to the Newport festivals foundation, Inc.

     (i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of Newport Festivals

Foundation, Inc. plates, the Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. must use any Rhode Island sourced

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

     (j) Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. will be required to submit an annual accounting

report before such monies are distributed.

     (k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.

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 Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.

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

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