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An Act Honoring Gold Star Families through Special Registration Plates
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §515-C  is enacted to read:
§ 515-C. Gold star family motorcycle registration plates
Notwithstanding the requirements of section 468-A, the Secretary of State, on application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, shall issue a registration certificate and a gold star family motorcycle registration plate, to be used in lieu of a regular registration plate, to a family member who is eligible to receive a gold star lapel button under 10 United States Code, Section 1126 (2010). For purposes of this section, "family member" means a widow, widower, mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption, foster parent who stood in loco parentis, grandmother, grandfather, child, stepchild and child through adoption.
 
1.  Application.     An application for gold star family motorcycle registration plates must be accompanied by proof that the applicant is eligible for the gold star lapel button. The Secretary of State shall verify the documentation presented by the applicant. Misrepresentation of documents is in violation of section 2103, subsection 5.
 
An applicant may be issued gold star family motorcycle registration plates for no more than 2 motorcycles.
 
2.  Design.     The Secretary of State shall determine the design of the gold star family motorcycle registration plate. Upon request and as provided by section 453, the Secretary of State shall issue gold star family motorcycle registration plates that are also vanity plates. Gold star family vanity plates are issued in accordance with this section and section 453. The annual service fee of $15 for vanity plates is credited to the Highway Fund.
The Secretary of State shall begin issuing gold star family motorcycle registration plates in accordance with this section no later than January 1, 2012.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §524-B  is enacted to read:
§ 524-B. Gold star family registration plates
Notwithstanding the requirements in section 468-A, the Secretary of State, on application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of gold star family registration plates, to be used in lieu of regular registration plates, to a person who is eligible to receive a gold star lapel button under 10 United States Code, Section 1126 (2010). For purposes of this section, "family member" means a widow, widower, mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption, foster parent who stood in loco parentis, grandmother, grandfather, child, stepchild and child through adoption.
 
1.  Application.     An application for gold star family registration plates must be accompanied by proof that the applicant is eligible for the gold star lapel button. The Secretary of State shall verify the documentation presented by the applicant. Misrepresentation of documents is in violation of section 2103, subsection 5.
 
The Secretary of State may issue gold star family registration plates for display only on an automobile or pickup truck. An applicant may be issued gold star family registration plates for no more than 2 vehicles.
 
2.  Design.     The Secretary of State shall determine the design of the gold star family registration plate. Upon request and as provided by section 453, the Secretary of State shall issue gold star family registration plates that are also vanity plates. Gold star family vanity plates are issued in accordance with this section and section 453. The annual service fee of $15 for vanity plates is credited to the Highway Fund.
 
A person who does not operate a motor vehicle or register a motor vehicle and who otherwise qualifies for the issuance of special gold star family registration plates may apply to the Secretary of State for a special single plate recognizing that award. The Secretary of State shall design and identify these single plates for recognition purposes only. Single gold star family plates may not be attached to a motor vehicle. Only one plate may be issued to each recipient and a one-time fee of $5 charged.
The Secretary of State shall begin issuing gold star family registration plates in accordance with this section no later than January 1, 2012.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows the Secretary of State to issue special gold star family registration plates for vehicles and motorcycles to certain family members eligible to receive gold star lapel buttons under 10 United States Code, Section 1126 (2010).