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.