S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1832
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 17, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  GRIFFO,  STEC,  TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered
   printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Trans-
   portation
 
 AN  ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to distinctive
   plates for legion of valor recipients
 
   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 LEGION OF VALOR  RECIPIENTS.  1.  ANY
 PERSON  WHO  IS  A  RECIPIENT  OF THE ARMY MEDAL OF HONOR, NAVY MEDAL OF
 HONOR, AIR FORCE MEDAL OF HONOR, ARMY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS,  NAVY
 CROSS,  COAST  GUARD  CROSS,  OR  AIR FORCE CROSS RESIDING IN THIS STATE
 SHALL, UPON REQUEST, BE ISSUED A LICENSE PLATE BEARING THE WORDS "LEGION
 OF VALOR" AND DEPICTING THE INDIVIDUAL'S MILITARY AWARD DECAL.  APPLICA-
 TION FOR SAID LICENSE PLATE SHALL BE FILED WITH THE COMMISSIONER IN SUCH
 FORM AND DETAIL AS THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PRESCRIBE.
   2. THE DISTINCTIVE PLATE AUTHORIZED HEREIN SHALL BE ISSUED UPON PROOF,
 SATISFACTORY TO THE COMMISSIONER, THAT THE APPLICANT IS AN ARMY MEDAL OF
 HONOR, NAVY MEDAL OF HONOR, AIR FORCE MEDAL OF HONOR, ARMY DISTINGUISHED
 SERVICE CROSS, NAVY CROSS, COAST GUARD CROSS, OR AIR FORCE CROSS RECIPI-
 ENT.
   3. A DISTINCTIVE PLATE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE ISSUED
 IN  THE  SAME  MANNER AS OTHER NUMBER PLATES, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NO
 REGISTRATION FEE OR SERVICE CHARGE 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 a surety bond in the amount of six thousand dollars, which shall
 be  executed  by a surety company authorized by the department of finan-
 cial services to transact business in  this  state.  Provided,  however,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03073-01-3
              

 S. 1832                             2
 
 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 non-refundable, no
 such surety bond shall be required.  All such service charges  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,  adver-
 tising 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, such department shall be entitled  to
 recover against the bond in an amount proportionate to such shortfall.
   §  3.  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.