Special registration plates that are military in nature. (FE)

This bill expands these listed authorized groups to include a surviving spouse of the medal recipient or Pearl Harbor veteran.

Under current law, DOT collects a registration fee for the initial registration or registration renewal of most motor vehicles operated on the highway. The amount of the registration fee varies by type of vehicle, with automobiles subject to a $75 annual registration fee and motor trucks subject to a fee based on weight. In addition to the regular registration fee, DOT charges a fee of $15 for the issuance or reissuance of most special plates. For special plates that are military in nature, this $15 additional fee is deposited into the veterans trust fund. However, for a person awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, there is no registration fee and no additional fee for issuance of these special plates.

Under this bill, there is no initial or renewal registration fee and no $15 additional fee for a vehicle registered by a special group member who was awarded, or who is the surviving spouse of a person awarded, the Purple Heart Medal, the Distinguished Service Cross Medal, the Air Force Cross Medal, the Navy Cross Medal, or the Distinguished Service Medal, or who is or is the surviving spouse of a Pearl Harbor veteran, if the vehicle owner has no other registered vehicles with military special plates for which there is such a fee exemption. There is also no registration fee or additional fee for the surviving spouse of a person awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The bill also exempts an honorably discharged veteran from the $15 additional fee for issuance or reissuance of special plates that are military in nature, including a veteran's motorcycle plate, if the vehicle owner has no other registered vehicles with military special plates for which there is such a fee exemption. DOT must annually report to the Department of Administration the number of vehicles issued or reissued special plates that are military in nature for which no $15 additional fee was collected as provided above. DOA must annually transfer from the general fund to the veterans trust fund an amount equal to the number of vehicles reported by DOT multiplied by $15.