BILL NUMBER:  S860

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to creating
distinctive license plates for the United States army 10th mountain
division

 PURPOSE :

To establish distinctive license plates honoring our veterans from the
United States Army 10th Mountain Division

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 adds new section 404-x to the vehicle and traffic law to
provide distinctive license plates for the United States Army 10th
Mountain Division. The plate is available to members and supporters of
the United States Army 10th Mountain Division and proceeds from the
sale of these license plates in excess of $2,500 annually shall be
paid by the state comptroller to the 10th Mountain Division Foundation
for their scholarship program in support of financing the division's
members' and family members' pursuit of full time undergraduate or
technical education.

Section 2 provides, that distinctive plates issued pursuant to this
              

new section shall only be designed, produced, and issued, up on the
delivery to the Department of Motor Vehicles of a surety bond in the
amount of $6,000, which shall be executed by a surety company
authorized y the Department of Financial Services to transact business
in this state. Provided, however that if the commissioner shall have
received 200 orders for such distinctive plate together with the
additional annual service charge, no such surety bond is required. All
service charges collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited
pursuant to the provisions of Section 404-oo to the credit of the
Department of Motor Vehicles Distinctive Plate Development Fund. This
section also provides for the discontinuance of surety bonds if 200 or
more sets of plates are sold in the series during the two year
following the date upon which the plates were first made available for
sale. If fewer than 200 sets of plates are sold during the first two
years of sale, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall be entitled to
recover against the bond an in amount proportionate to such shortfall.

Section 3 provides the effective date.

 EXISTING LAW :

Article 14 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law relates to the registration
of motor vehicles. The enumerated sections of this article provide for
distinctive license plates and the registration and issuance of
license plates based on particular circumstances.

Section 404 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law provides for the issuance
of special license plates. This section provides the commissioner may
issue special number plates to applicants therefor in the same manner
as other number plates are issued pursuant to this article. Such
special number plates shall be issued only upon payment of an annual
service charge of thirty-one dollars and twenty-five cents in addition
to the regular fee prescribed by section 401 of this article.

Section 404(1-a) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law further provides for
the issuance of special number plates to applicants who are members of
veterans organizations. These plate shall be issued in the same manner
as other plates, but shall be issued only upon (a) payment of the
onetime service charge of $10 in addition to the regular registration
fee
Section 404-oo of the Vehicle and Traffic Law provides for the deposit
of service charges for distinctive license plates to the Department of
Motor Vehicles Distinctive Plate Development Fund established pursuant
to the State Finance Law and shall be used for the production, design,
advertising, and distribution of such distinctive license plates
established pursuant to this article on or after the effective date of
this section.

Section 95-g of the State Finance Law establishes the Department of
Motor Vehicles Distinctive Plate Development Fund consisting of all
revenues received pursuant to the provisions of Section 404-oo of the
Vehicle and Traffic Law and all money appropriated, credits, or
transferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law.
Moneys of the fund are expended only for the design, production,
advertising, and distribution of distinctive license plates
established pursuant to Article 14 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.

 JUSTIFICATION :

From their battlefield inception in 1945, to the present, the 10th
Mountain Division has maintained its status as one of the most unique
combat forces in American military history. In 1985, the light
infantry Division was reactivated at Fort Drum, New York in Jefferson
County. All soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division are prepared to
deploy anywhere in the world. Whether their missions were in support
of Operation Desert Shield/Storm, the humanitarian Operation Restore
Hope in Somalia, East Africa, assisting in hurricane and ice storm
relief efforts here at home, or the most recent deployments to
Afghanistan and Iraq, to name a few, the Division has always shown
their technical and tactical proficiency in accomplishing their
operations.

This legislation will recognize the 10th Mountain Division and their
unique training in mountain and winter warfare, which has brought them
great success and has helped advance world peace. Any member or
supporter of the United States Army 10th Mountain Division residing in
this state will be able to upon request be issued a license plate
bearing the 10th Mountain Division insignia and the words "Member of
the United States Army 10th Mountain Division," or "Supporter of the
United States Army 10th Mountain Division."

Applications for these distinctive plates will be filed with the
commissioner and no license plate, bearing the words "Member of the
United States Army 10th Mountain Division," may be issued to an
applicant without verification that the applicant is a member of the
10th Mountain Division of the United States Army. However, both
distinctive plates issued will be administered in the same manner as
other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee with
an additional annual service charge of $20.00 for such plate. This
annual service fee will be deposited into the department of motor
vehicles distinctive plate development fund and be used for
production, design, advertising and marketing of distinctive license
plates. Proceeds from the sale of these license plates in excess of
$2,500 annually shall be paid by the state comptroller to the 10th
Mountain Division Foundation for their scholarship program in support
of financing the division's members' and family members' pursuit of
full time undergraduate or technical education.

The legislation will honor our veterans from the United States Army
10th Mountain Division and support their scholarship program. By
providing members and supporters with distinctive license plates we
recognize these particular veterans' immutable service to our great
nation and help sustain the scholarship program for 10th Mountain
Division members and family members. These veterans deserve our
acknowledgment and appreciation and this bill achieves that objective.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2015-2016: S.3311B - Passed the Senate/ A.8005-B
2013-2014: S.4062 - Passed Senate
2011-2012: S.5233 - Referred to Transportation

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S860A

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to creating distinctive license plates for the United States
army 10th mountain division

 PURPOSE :

To establish distinctive license plates honoring our veterans from the
United States Army 10th Mountain Division

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 adds new section 404-x to the vehicle and traffic law to
provide distinctive license plates for the United States Army 10th
Mountain Division. The plate is available to members and supporters of
the United States Army 10th Mountain Division and proceeds from the
sale of these license plates in excess of $2,500 annually shall be
paid by the state comptroller to the 10th Mountain Division Foundation
for their scholarship program in support of financing the division's
members' and family members' pursuit of full time undergraduate or
technical education.

Section 2 provides, that distinctive plates issued pursuant to this
new section shall only be designed, produced, and issued, up on the
delivery to the Department of Motor Vehicles of a surety bond in the
              

amount of $6,000, which shall be executed by a surety company
authorized by the Department of Financial Services to transact
business in this state. Provided, however that if the commissioner
shall have received 200 orders for such distinctive plate together
with the additional annual service charge, no such surety bond is
required. All service charges collected pursuant to this section shall
be deposited pursuant to the provisions of Section 404-oo to the
credit of the Department of Motor Vehicles Distinctive Plate
Development Fund. This section also provides for the discontinuance of
surety bonds if 200 or more sets of plates are sold in the series
during the two year following the date upon which the plates were
first made available for sale. If fewer than 200 sets of plates are
sold during the first two years of sale, the Department of Motor
Vehicles shall be entitled to recover against the bond an in amount
proportionate to such shortfall.

Section 3 provides the effective date.

 EXISTING LAW :

Article 14 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law relates to the registration
of motor vehicles. The enumerated sections of this article provide for
distinctive license plates and the registration and issuance of
license plates based on particular circumstances.

Section 404 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law provides for the issuance
of special license plates. This section provides the commissioner may
issue special number plates to applicants therefor in the same manner
as other number plates are issued pursuant to this article.

Section 404(2) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law further provides for the
issuance of special number plates to applicants who are members of
veterans organizations. These plate shall be issued in the same manner
as other plates, but shall be issued only upon (a) payment of the
onetime service charge of $20 in addition to the regular registration
fee

Section 404-oo of the Vehicle and Traffic Law provides for the deposit
of service charges for distinctive license plates to the Department of
Motor Vehicles Distinctive Plate Development Fund established pursuant
to the State Finance Law and shall be used for the production, design,
advertising, and distribution of such distinctive license plates
established pursuant to this article on or after the effective date of
this section.

Section 95-g of the State Finance Law establishes the Department of
Motor Vehicles Distinctive Plate Development Fund consisting of all
revenues received pursuant to the provisions of Section 404-oo of the
Vehicle and Traffic Law and all money appropriated, credits, or
transferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law.
Moneys of the fund are expended only for the design, production,
advertising, and distribution of distinctive license plates
established pursuant to Article 14 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.

 JUSTIFICATION :

From their battlefield inception in 1945, to the present, the 10th
Mountain Division has maintained its status as one of the most unique
combat forces in American military history. In 1985, the light
infantry Division was reactivated at Fort Drum, New York in Jefferson
County. All soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division are prepared to
deploy anywhere in the world. Whether their missions were in support
of Operation Desert Shield/Storm, the humanitarian Operation Restore
Hope in Somalia, East Africa, assisting in hurricane and ice storm
relief efforts here at home, or the most recent deployments to
Afghanistan and Iraq, to name a few, the Division has always shown
their technical and tactical proficiency in accomplishing their
operations.

This legislation will recognize the 10th Mountain Division and their
unique training in mountain and winter warfare, which has brought them
great success and has helped advance world peace. Any member or
supporter of the United States Army 10th Mountain Division residing in
this state will be able to upon request be issued a license plate
bearing the 10th Mountain Division insignia and the words "Member of
the United States Army 10th Mountain Division," "Veteran of the United
States Army 10th Mountain Division" or "Supporter of the United States
Army 10th Mountain Division."

Applications for these distinctive plates will be filed with the
commissioner and no license plate, bearing the words "Member of the
United States Army 10th Mountain Division," may be issued to an
applicant without verification that the applicant is a member of the
10th Mountain Division of the United States Army. However, the
distinctive plates issued will be administered in the same manner as
other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee with
an additional annual service charge of $20.00 for such plate. This
service fee will be deposited into the department of motor vehicles
distinctive plate development fund and be used for production, design,
advertising and marketing of distinctive license plates.  Proceeds
from the sale of these license plates in excess of $2,500 annually
shall be paid by the state comptroller to the 10th Mountain Division
Foundation for their scholarship program in support of financing the
division's members' and family members' pursuit of full time
undergraduate or technical education.

The legislation will honor our veterans from the United States Army
10th Mountain Division and support their scholarship program. By
providing members, veterans and supporters with distinctive license
plates we recognize these particular veterans' immutable service to
our great nation and help sustain the scholarship program for 10th
Mountain Division members and family members. These veterans deserve
our acknowledgment and appreciation and this bill achieves that
objective.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2015-2016: S.3311B - Passed the Senate/ A.8005-8
2013-2014: S.4062 - Passed Senate
2011-2012: S.5233 - Referred to Transportation

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.