S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8456
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               July 11, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in  relation  to  providing
   for  distinctive  license plates for members of the Seabee Veterans of
   America

   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 MEMBERS OF  THE  SEABEE  VETERANS  OF
 AMERICA.  1.  ANY  MEMBER  OF THE SEABEE VETERANS OF AMERICA RESIDING IN
 THIS STATE SHALL, UPON REQUEST, BE ISSUED A LICENSE  PLATE  BEARING  THE
 NAVY  SEABEE  EMBLEM.  APPLICATION FOR SAID LICENSE PLATE SHALL BE FILED
 WITH THE COMMISSIONER IN SUCH FORM AND DETAIL AS THE COMMISSIONER  SHALL
 PRESCRIBE.
   2.  THE  DISTINCTIVE  PLATE AUTHORIZED IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE ISSUED
 UPON PROOF, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMMISSIONER, THAT THE  APPLICANT  IS  A
 MEMBER OF THE SEABEE VETERANS OF AMERICA.
   3. 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 ONE-TIME SERVICE CHARGE
 OF TEN DOLLARS SHALL BE CHARGED FOR SUCH PLATE.
   § 2. Subdivision 1-a of section 404 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
 added by chapter 105 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   1-a. The commissioner may issue special number  plates  to  applicants
 who  are  members  of veterans organizations in the same manner as other
 number plates are issued pursuant to this article. Such  special  number
 plates  shall  be  issued  only  upon  (a) payment of a one-time service
 charge of ten dollars  in  addition  to  the  regular  registration  fee
 prescribed  by  section  four  hundred  one  of  this  article,  and (b)
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04640-01-5
              

 S. 8456                             2
 
 submission of proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that  the  appli-
 cant  is  presently a member of the veterans organization for which such
 plate is requested. Such membership shall be verified  annually  by  the
 applicant.  Application for such plates shall be made in accordance with
 regulations promulgated by the commissioner with respect to the issuance
 of such plates. Provided, however, that nothing contained  herein  shall
 be  deemed  to  supersede the provisions of section four hundred four-d,
 four hundred four-e, four hundred  four-h,  four  hundred  four-i,  four
 hundred  four-j,  four hundred four-k, four hundred four-p, four hundred
 four-aa, [or] four hundred four-dd OR FOUR HUNDRED FOUR-FF of this arti-
 cle.
   § 3. 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
 one-time 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.
   §  4.  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.