S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2953
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 1, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. GALLAHAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Transportation
 
 AN  ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing
   distinctive license plates for supporters of the conservation  of  the
   Seneca  white deer; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to
   establishing the New York state "preserve the Seneca white deer fund"
 
   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  "I  SUPPORT  THE  SENECA  WHITE  DEER"  LICENSE
 PLATES.  1.  ANY  PERSON  RESIDING IN THIS STATE SHALL, UPON REQUEST, BE
 ISSUED A DISTINCTIVE LICENSE PLATE BEARING THE  PHRASE  "I  SUPPORT  THE
 SENECA  WHITE  DEER".  APPLICATION FOR SUCH LICENSE PLATE SHALL BE FILED
 WITH THE COMMISSIONER IN SUCH FORM AND DETAIL AS THE COMMISSIONER  SHALL
 PRESCRIBE.
   2. 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,
 PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT AN ADDITIONAL ANNUAL SERVICE CHARGE  OF  TWENTY-
 FIVE DOLLARS SHALL BE CHARGED FOR SUCH PLATE.
   §  2. 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
 annual  service  charge  applicable  to  each such order, which shall be
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04943-01-3
              

 A. 2953                             2
 
 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, the department of motor vehicles
 shall be entitled to recover against the bond in an amount proportionate
 to such shortfall.
   § 3. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section  97-aaaa
 to read as follows:
   §  97-AAAA.  THE NEW YORK STATE "PRESERVE THE SENECA WHITE DEER FUND".
 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE  COMMISSIONER
 OF  ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND THE COMPTROLLER, A SPECIAL FUND TO BE
 KNOWN AS THE "PRESERVE THE SENECA WHITE DEER FUND".
   2. SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL MONEYS COLLECTED PURSUANT TO SECTION
 FOUR HUNDRED FOUR-FF OF THE VEHICLE  AND  TRAFFIC  LAW,  AND  ALL  OTHER
 MONEYS APPROPRIATED, CREDITED OR TRANSFERRED THERETO FROM ANY OTHER FUND
 OR SOURCE PURSUANT TO LAW.
   3. THE PRESERVE THE SENECA WHITE DEER FUND SHALL CONSIST OF THE REVEN-
 UES  REQUIRED  TO  BE  DEPOSITED  THEREIN  PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
 SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FOUR-FF OF THE VEHICLE AND  TRAFFIC  LAW,  AND  ALL
 OTHER  MONEYS  CREDITED  OR  TRANSFERRED  THERETO FROM ANY OTHER FUND OR
 SOURCE PURSUANT TO LAW.
   § 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.