Assembly Bill A11178

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   11178
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                May 1, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. LUNSFORD -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Transportation
 
 AN  ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing
   distinctive license plates for women veterans
 
   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 PLATES FOR WOMEN VETERANS. 1. ANY WOMAN  VETERAN
 RESIDING  IN  THIS  STATE SHALL, UPON REQUEST, BE ISSUED A LICENSE PLATE
 BEARING THE WORDS "WOMAN VETERAN".  APPLICATION FOR SAID  LICENSE  PLATE
 SHALL  BE  FILED  WITH  THE  COMMISSIONER IN SUCH FORM AND DETAIL AS THE
 COMMISSIONER SHALL PRESCRIBE.
   2. THE DISTINCTIVE  PLATES  AUTHORIZED  IN  SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF  THIS
 SECTION  SHALL  BE  ISSUED UPON PROOF, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMMISSIONER,
 THAT THE APPLICANT IS A WOMAN VETERAN.
   3. THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES, IN  CONSULTATION  WITH  WOMEN
 VETERANS  THROUGHOUT  NEW  YORK  STATE, SHALL HAVE FINAL APPROVAL OF THE
 DESIGN OF THE DISTINCTIVE PLATE AUTHORIZED IN SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF  THIS
 SECTION.
   4. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "VETERAN" SHALL HAVE THE
 SAME  MEANING  AS  SET  FORTH IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION ONE OF THE
 VETERANS' SERVICES LAW.
   5. 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 ONE TIME  SERVICE  CHARGE  OF  TEN
 DOLLARS SHALL BE CHARGED FOR SUCH PLATE.
   §  2. 1. A distinctive plate established pursuant to section 404-ff of
 the vehicle and traffic law shall only be designed, produced and  issued
 upon  the  delivery to the department 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  commis-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15485-03-6
 A. 11178                            2
 
 sioner  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 non-refundable, no such surety bond
 shall be required.  Service charges collected pursuant to  this  section
 shall first 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 development 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, and any amounts in excess of the amount required
 to be collected pursuant to section 404-oo of the  vehicle  and  traffic
 law shall be used to support programs that support women veterans at the
 direction of the commissioner of veterans' services.
   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.  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.