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
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 the provisions of section 468, subsection 7 do not apply.
The Treasurer of State shall reimburse the sponsor $20,000 of the original payment from the Highway Fund after the issuance of the first 2,000 registration plates under this section.
Revenue in the fund must be used to provide financial assistance 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 as determined by the We Support Our Troops Advisory Board established in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 84-A.
(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) Four persons representing the interests of the public; and
The Adjutant General serves during the Adjutant General's term of office. The terms of members appointed under paragraph A are for 3 years. Members may be reappointed for subsequent terms. A vacancy must be filled in the same manner as an original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term.
The board shall determine the use of the revenue in the fund. 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. Staggered terms for We Support Our Troops Advisory Board members. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 456-D, subsection 8, the first members appointed under Title 29-A, section 456-D, subsection 8, paragraph A, subparagraph (1) serve for 1 year, the first members appointed under Title 29-A, section 456-D, subsection 8, paragraph A, subparagraph (2) serve for 2 years and the first members appointed under Title 29-A, section 456-D, subsection 8, paragraph A, subparagraph (3) serve for 3 years.
Sec. 4. Timing of issuance of plates. The Secretary of State shall begin issuing We Support Our Troops plates under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 456-D on November 1, 2007 if the sponsor of the plate who is registered under Title 29-A, section 468, subsection 1 provided to the Secretary of State by May 1, 2007 the sum of $18,018 for deposit in the Specialty License Plate Fund established under Title 29-A, section 469. This amount represents the incremental cost of issuing the specialty plate beginning November 1, 2007. If the full specified sum was not provided by the specified date, the Secretary of State shall begin issuing We Support Our Troops plates by April 1, 2008.
Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
CORRECTIONS, DEPARTMENT OF
State Prison 0144
Initiative: Allocates for the cost of the stock needed to produce "We Support Our Troops" specialty registration plates.
| PRISON INDUSTRIES FUND | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
|
All Other
|
$2,000 | $2,060 |
 |
|
|
| PRISON INDUSTRIES FUND TOTAL | $2,000 | $2,060 |
| CORRECTIONS, DEPARTMENT OF | ||
| DEPARTMENT TOTALS | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
|
PRISON INDUSTRIES FUND
|
$2,000 | $2,060 |
|
|
|
| DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS | $2,000 | $2,060 |
SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF
Administration - Motor Vehicles 0077
Initiative: Allocates for the cost of manufacturing "We Support Our Troops" specialty registration plates.
| OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
|
All Other
|
$58,018 | $0 |
|
|
|
| OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL | $58,018 | $0 |
| SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF | ||
| DEPARTMENT TOTALS | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
|
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
|
$58,018 | $0 |
|
|
|
| DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS | $58,018 | $0 |
| SECTION TOTALS | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
|
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
|
$58,018 | $0 |
|
PRISON INDUSTRIES FUND
|
$2,000 | $2,060 |
|
|
|
| SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS | $60,018 | $2,060 |
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.