Whereas, this Act provides special motor vehicle registration plates for Korean War veterans; and

Whereas, this Act needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period so that these registration plates may be issued for the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War in June 2000; 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,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §524, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

5.__Korean War veterans; special license plates.__The Secretary of State, on application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section l482 and the registration fee required by section 501, shall issue a registration certificate and set of special designating plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates to any person who served in the United States Armed Forces during the Korean War, June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955, when that application is accompanied by appropriate military certification verifying the applicant's service during the Korean War.__Notwithstanding section 468, subsections 2 and 4, the Secretary of State may issue less than 2,000 of the plates authorized by this subsection.

The surviving spouse of a Korean War veteran issued plates in accordance with this subsection may retain and display the plates as long as the surviving spouse remains unmarried.__Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse may not use the plates on a motor vehicle, but may retain them as a keepsake.__Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the family may retain the plates, but may not use them on a motor vehicle.

These special designating plates must be of a design as determined by the Secretary of State.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.