S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6585
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               March 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. JONES -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to  authorizing
   a distinctive "North Country Honor Flight" license plate; and to amend
   the  state  finance law, in relation to establishing the North Country
   Honor Flight 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 "NORTH COUNTRY HONOR FLIGHT" LICENSE PLATES.  1.
 ANY  PERSON  RESIDING  IN  THIS  STATE  SHALL, UPON REQUEST, BE ISSUED A
 DISTINCTIVE "NORTH COUNTRY HONOR FLIGHT" LICENSE PLATE. 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 THE PAYMENT OF THE REGU-
 LAR 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. SUCH ANNUAL SERVICE
 CHARGE SHALL BE DEPOSITED PURSUANT TO THE  PROVISIONS  OF  SECTION  FOUR
 HUNDRED FOUR-OO OF THIS ARTICLE TO THE CREDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR
 VEHICLES DISTINCTIVE PLATE DEVELOPMENT FUND ESTABLISHED BY SECTION NINE-
 TY-FIVE-G  OF  THE  STATE  FINANCE  LAW,  AND  SHALL  BE  USED  FOR  THE
 PRODUCTION, DESIGN, ADVERTISING AND  MARKETING  OF  DISTINCTIVE  LICENSE
 PLATES  PURSUANT  TO SUCH SECTION NINETY-FIVE-G; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
 ADDITIONAL ANNUAL SERVICE CHARGES COLLECTED IN EXCESS  OF  SIX  THOUSAND
 DOLLARS  SHALL  BE  DEPOSITED  TO  THE CREDIT OF THE NORTH COUNTRY HONOR
 FLIGHT FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETY-SEVEN-SS OF THE STATE
 FINANCE LAW AND SHALL BE USED TO SUPPORT NORTH COUNTRY HONOR FLIGHT.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10694-01-5
 A. 6585                             2
              

 
   § 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 97-ss to
 read as follows:
   §  97-SS.  NORTH COUNTRY HONOR FLIGHT FUND.  1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTAB-
 LISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND  FINANCE
 AND  THE  COMPTROLLER,  A SPECIAL FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE "NORTH COUNTRY
 HONOR FLIGHT FUND".
   2. SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL REVENUES RECEIVED  PURSUANT  TO  THE
 PROVISIONS  OF  SECTION  FOUR HUNDRED FOUR-FF OF THE VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC
 LAW AND ALL OTHER MONIES APPROPRIATED, CREDITED, OR TRANSFERRED  THERETO
 FROM ANY OTHER FUND OR SOURCE PURSUANT TO LAW. NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS
 SECTION SHALL PREVENT THE STATE FROM RECEIVING GRANTS, GIFTS OR BEQUESTS
 FOR  THE  PURPOSES OF THE FUND AS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION AND DEPOSITING
 THEM INTO THE FUND ACCORDING TO LAW.
   3. MONIES OF THE FUND SHALL BE EXPENDED TO SUPPORT NORTH COUNTRY HONOR
 FLIGHT.
   4. MONIES SHALL BE PAYABLE FROM THE FUND ON THE AUDIT AND  WARRANT  OF
 THE COMPTROLLER ON VOUCHERS APPROVED AND CERTIFIED BY THE STATE DIRECTOR
 OF VETERANS' SERVICES.
   §  3. 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-
 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.   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 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.
   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.
   §  4.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
 sections one and two of this act shall take effect on  the  one  hundred
 eightieth  day  after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately,
 the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or  regulation  neces-
 sary  for  the  implementation  of  this  act  on its effective date are
 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.