S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2261
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 16, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. COONEY -- 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
the issuance of distinctive license plates for family members of paid
professional firefighters who died in the line-of-duty
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 LICENSE PLATES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF PAID
PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS WHO DIED IN THE LINE-OF-DUTY. 1. FOR PURPOSES
OF THIS SECTION, "FAMILY MEMBERS OF A PAID PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER WHO
DIED IN THE LINE-OF-DUTY" SHALL MEAN A SPOUSE, REGISTERED DOMESTIC PART-
NER, PARENT, SIBLING OR CHILD OF A PAID PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER WHO
DIED IN THE COURSE OF EMPLOYMENT OR PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES AS A FIRE-
FIGHTER.
2. ANY FAMILY MEMBER OF A PAID PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER WHO DIED IN
THE LINE-OF-DUTY AND WHO RESIDES IN THIS STATE SHALL, UPON REQUEST, BE
ISSUED A DISTINCTIVE LICENSE PLATE BEARING THE WORDS "SURVIVOR OF THE
BRAVEST" OF A DESIGN APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER. APPLICATION FOR SUCH
LICENSE PLATE SHALL BE FILED WITH THE COMMISSIONER IN SUCH FORM AND
DETAIL AS THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PRESCRIBE AND SHALL BE VERIFIED ANNUAL-
LY BY THE APPLICANT.
3. A DISTINCTIVE PLATE AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS
SECTION SHALL BE ISSUED UPON PROOF, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMMISSIONER,
THAT THE APPLICANT IS A FAMILY MEMBER OF A PAID PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER
WHO DIED IN THE LINE-OF-DUTY.
4. 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-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03548-01-5
S. 2261 2
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.
§ 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
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, such department shall be entitled to
recover against the bond in an amount proportionate to such shortfall.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided, however, that section two of this
act shall take effect immediately; provided further, however, that
effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
tive date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
effective date.