Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §456-C is enacted to read:

§456-C.__Higher education registration plates

The Secretary of State shall issue registration plates to honor accredited institutions of higher learning in the State, sponsored by the Finance Authority of Maine beginning November 1, 2006 in accordance with this section and the guidelines of section 468.__The higher education special registration plates are not required for registration of a motor vehicle but are to allow citizens to participate voluntarily to fund the Maine State Grant Program.

1.__Higher education registration plate.__The Secretary of State, upon receiving an application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the annual motor vehicle registration fee required by section 501 and the administrative fee and voluntary contribution provided for in subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of higher education registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates.__These plates must bear identification numbers and letters.

2.__Administrative fee and contribution to special programs.__ A person may contribute to the Maine State Grant Program by applying for the higher education special registration plates and submitting, in addition to the regular motor vehicle fee, a sum of $20 credited as follows:

A.__Ten dollars to the Maine State Grant Program as established in Title 20-A, section 11612; and

B.__Ten dollars to the Specialty License Plate Fund as established in section 469 for administrative and production costs.

3.__Design.__A sponsor must submit a design for the special registration plate to the Secretary of State for approval or modification in accordance with section 468, subsection 5.__The design must allow the display of a college or university logo decal on the plates, and a commitment to purchase at least 200 plates is required for the logo of the college or university to be included on a special registration plate.

4.__Renewal fee.__In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed by law, the annual renewal contribution for higher education special registration plates is $15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: