S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    287
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  RHOADS,  OBERACKER, PALUMBO, STEC, WEBER, WEIK --
   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 establishing
   a distinctive plate honoring Eagle Scouts

   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  EAGLE SCOUT PLATES. 1. ANY PERSON RESIDING IN
 THIS STATE SHALL, UPON REQUEST, BE ISSUED A DISTINCTIVE PLATE IN SUPPORT
 OF THE EAGLE SCOUTS OF A DESIGN APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER IN  CONSUL-
 TATION WITH THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.
   2.  AN APPLICATION FOR SUCH PLATE SHALL BE FILED WITH THE COMMISSIONER
 IN SUCH FORM AND DETAIL AS THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PRESCRIBE.
   3. 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
 AND AN INITIAL ONE TIME SERVICE CHARGE OF TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS  SHALL  BE
 CHARGED FOR SUCH PLATES.
   §  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 a surety bond in the amount of six thousand dollars, which shall
 be executed by a surety company authorized by the department  of  finan-
 cial  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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD01056-01-5
 S. 287                              2
 
 such surety bond shall be required.  All such service charges  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,  adver-
 tising 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 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 on or before such effective date.