S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7061
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2020
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. HARCKHAM -- 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  distinctive
   license  plates  for  society for the prevention of cruelty to animals
   officers

   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 SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY
 TO ANIMALS OFFICERS. 1. SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
 OFFICERS IN THIS STATE OR THE SPOUSE OF  ANY  SUCH  MEMBER  SHALL,  UPON
 REQUEST,  BE  ISSUED A LICENSE PLATE BEARING THE LETTERS "S.P.C.A". IF A
 DISTINCTIVE PLATE IS ISSUED TO ANY SUCH MEMBER PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION,
 SUCH A DISTINCTIVE PLATE SHALL NOT BE  ISSUED  TO  THE  SPOUSE  OF  SUCH
 MEMBER.  APPLICATION  FOR  SUCH  LICENSE  PLATE  SHALL BE FILED WITH THE
 COMMISSIONER  IN  SUCH  FORM  AND  DETAIL  AS  THE  COMMISSIONER   SHALL
 PRESCRIBE, AND SHALL BE VERIFIED ANNUALLY BY THE APPLICANT.
   2. THE DISTINCTIVE PLATE AUTHORIZED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION
 SHALL  BE  ISSUED UPON PROOF, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMMISSIONER, THAT THE
 APPLICANT OR THE SPOUSE OF THE APPLICANT IS PRESENTLY A SOCIETY FOR  THE
 PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS OFFICERS.
   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 FIFTEEN DOLLARS.
   §  2. 1. A distinctive plate established pursuant to section 404-ff of
 the vehicle and traffic law shall only be designed, produced and  issued
 upon  the  delivery to the department of motor vehicles of a surety bond
 in the amount of $6,000, 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 issu-
 
              

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14037-02-9

 S. 7061                             2
 
 ance  at  least  200 orders for such distinctive plate together with the
 additional annual 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
 development fund established by section 95-g of the  state  finance  law
 and  shall  be used for the design, production, advertising and distrib-
 ution 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,  200  or
 more  sets  of  such  plates are sold, a bond delivered pursuant to this
 section shall be discontinued. If fewer than 200 sets of such plates are
 sold by such time, the department of motor vehicles shall be entitled to
 recover against the bond in an amount proportionate to such shortfall.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation  of  this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.