An Act To Establish a Special License Plate To Honor Maine Residents Serving Our Country
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, Maine residents serving in conflicts throughout the world need our support; and
Whereas, the need to support our troops and assist their families is urgent and important; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§84-A is enacted to read:
| Transportation: Motor Vehicles | We Support Our Troops Advisory Board | Not Authorized | 29-A MRSA §456-D |
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §456-D is enacted to read:
§ 456-D. We Support Our Troops registration plates
Beginning November 1, 2007, the Secretary of State shall issue registration plates, referred to in this section as “We Support Our Troops plates,” to support Maine troops and their families in accordance with this section and section 468 except that, for the purposes of this section, the requirement for the list of 2,000 names of supporters as required by section 468, subsection 2 is waived. We Support Our Troops plates are not required for registration of a motor vehicle but are to allow citizens to participate in voluntarily funding special programs to assist the Maine families of troops.
(1) Two persons, each representing the interests of the Maine National Guard;
(2) Two persons, each representing the interests of Maine residents in the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States; and
(3) Two persons representing the interests of the public;
The board shall determine the use of the revenue in the Maine National Guard Foundation Fund Special Revenue Funds account in the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. Revenue in the fund must be used to provide financial assistance in the form of loans or grants to members of the Maine National Guard, residents of the State who are members of the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States and the families of those members of the Maine National Guard or Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States for emergencies and other special needs.
The board shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters by June 30th of each year. The report must provide a detailed account of funds for each fiscal year and include the number of loans and grants awarded, the names of those who received loans and grant money, a description of the process for awarding loans and grants and the total amount of loan and grant money awarded.
Sec. 3. Protection of design of plates. The Secretary of State shall copyright the design of the registration plate established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 456-D and make the design available for a fee to other states interested in establishing this specialty license plate.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
summary
This bill authorizes the issuance of a special registration plate to raise funds for members of the Maine National Guard and their families and residents of the State who are members of the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States and their families. The bill establishes the We Support Our Troops Advisory Board and directs the board to determine the appropriate use of the revenue generated by the special registration plate and distribute the funds in the form of loans or grants to members of the Maine National Guard and their families and residents of the State who are members of the Reserves of the Armed Forces of the United States and their families.
The bill also directs the Secretary of State to copyright the design of this plate and offer the design to other states for a fee.