The New York State Senate

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2172
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 20, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to  authorizing
   distinctive  license  plates for supporters of the conservation of the
   Seneca white deer; and to amend the state finance law, in relation  to
   establishing the New York state "preserve the Seneca white deer fund"
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 section 404-ff to read as follows:
   §  404-FF.  DISTINCTIVE  "I  SUPPORT  THE  SENECA  WHITE DEER" LICENSE
 PLATES. 1. ANY PERSON RESIDING IN THIS STATE  SHALL,  UPON  REQUEST,  BE
 ISSUED  A  DISTINCTIVE  LICENSE  PLATE BEARING THE PHRASE "I SUPPORT THE
 SENECA WHITE DEER". APPLICATION FOR SUCH LICENSE PLATE  SHALL  BE  FILED
 WITH  THE COMMISSIONER IN SUCH FORM AND DETAIL AS THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
 PRESCRIBE.
   2. A DISTINCTIVE PLATE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE ISSUED
 IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER NUMBER PLATES UPON PAYMENT  OF  THE  REGULAR
 REGISTRATION FEE PRESCRIBED BY SECTION FOUR HUNDRED ONE OF THIS ARTICLE,
 PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT AN ADDITIONAL ANNUAL SERVICE CHARGE OF TWENTY-
 FIVE DOLLARS SHALL BE CHARGED FOR SUCH PLATE.
   § 2. 1. A distinctive plate established pursuant to section 404-ff  of
 the  vehicle and traffic law, as added by section one of this act, shall
 only be designed, produced and issued upon the delivery to  the  depart-
 ment  of  motor  vehicles of a surety bond in the amount of six thousand
 dollars, 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 of motor vehicles shall have
 received prior to plate design, production and  issuance  at  least  two
 hundred  orders  for such distinctive plate together with the additional
 annual service charge applicable to each  such  order,  which  shall  be
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD04711-01-1

 S. 2172                             2
 
 non-refundable,  no  such  surety  bond  shall  be required. All service
 charges collected pursuant to this section shall be  deposited  pursuant
 to  the  provisions  of section 404-oo of the vehicle and traffic law to
 the  credit of the department of motor vehicles distinctive plate devel-
 opment fund established by section 95-g of the  state  finance  law  and
 shall  be  used for the design, production, advertising and distribution
 of distinctive license plates in accordance with such section 95-g.
   2. If, upon the expiration of two years following the date upon  which
 distinctive  plates  in  the  series  are  first  available for sale two
 hundred or more sets of such plates are sold, a bond delivered  pursuant
 to this section shall be discontinued. If fewer than two hundred sets of
 such  plates  are  sold  by  such time, the department of motor vehicles
 shall be entitled to recover against the bond in an amount proportionate
 to such shortfall.
   § 3. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section  97-aaaa
 to read as follows:
   §  97-AAAA.  THE NEW YORK STATE "PRESERVE THE SENECA WHITE DEER FUND".
 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE  COMMISSIONER
 OF  ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND THE COMPTROLLER, A SPECIAL FUND TO BE
 KNOWN AS THE "PRESERVE THE SENECA WHITE DEER FUND".
   2. SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL MONEYS COLLECTED PURSUANT TO SECTION
 FOUR HUNDRED FOUR-FF OF THE VEHICLE  AND  TRAFFIC  LAW,  AND  ALL  OTHER
 MONEYS APPROPRIATED, CREDITED OR TRANSFERRED THERETO FROM ANY OTHER FUND
 OR SOURCE PURSUANT TO LAW.
   3. THE PRESERVE THE SENECA WHITE DEER FUND SHALL CONSIST OF THE REVEN-
 UES  REQUIRED  TO  BE  DEPOSITED  THEREIN  PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
 SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FOUR-FF OF THE VEHICLE AND  TRAFFIC  LAW,  AND  ALL
 OTHER  MONEYS  CREDITED  OR  TRANSFERRED  THERETO FROM ANY OTHER FUND OR
 SOURCE PURSUANT TO LAW.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately;  provided  however  that,
 section  one  of this act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth
 day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately,  the  addi-
 tion,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for
 the implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized  to
 be made and completed on or before such effective date.