An Act To Establish a Specialty License Plate To Increase Funding for Autism Programs
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0343
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: PERRY, PILON

FIRST REGULAR SESSluN-2009 
Legislative Document 
No. 343 
In Senate, February 3, 2009 
An Act To Establish a Specialty License Plate To Increase Funding 
for Autism Programs 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator PERRY of Penobscot. 
Cosponsored by Representative PILON of Saco. 
Printed on recycled pdper 
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JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
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Be it enacted by tbe People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 29-A MRS A §456-G is enacted to read: 
§456-G. Autism support registration plates 
The Secretary of State shall issue autism support registration plates beginning 
November 1, 2009 in accordance with this section. Autism support registration plates are 
not required for registratiop of a motor vehicle but are to allow citizens to participate 
voluntarily to fund a program to benefit programs to support those affected by autism and 
their families. 
1. Autism support 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 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 
autism support 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 Autism Support Special Programs Fund established by the Treasurer of 
State pursuant to subsection 7 by applying for the autism support registration plates and 
submitting, in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, a sum of $20 credited 
as follows: 
·20 
A. 
Nine dollars to· the Autism Support Special Programs Fund established by the 
Treasurer of State in subsection 7; 
B. Ten dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
3. Design. A sponsor must submit a design for the autism support registration plate 
to the Secretary of State for approval or modification in accordance with section 468, 
subsection 5. The Secretary of State shall provide the [mal design to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters 
prior to manufacture of the plates. 
4. Duplicate plates prohibited. The Secretary of State shall issue autism support 
registration plates in a 3-number and 3-letter combination sequence. Vanity plates may 
not duplicate vanity plates issued in another class of plate. 
5. Weight limit. Autism support registration plates may be issued for a motor 
vehicle that does not exceed 10,000 pounds. A motor vehicle that exceeds 6,000 pounds 
is subject to the fees in section 504. 
6. Renewal fee. In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for autism support registration plates is $15, 
which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
Page I - 124LR0390(Ol)-1 
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A. Nine dollars to the Autism Support Special Programs Fund established by the 
Treasurer of State in subsection 7; 
B. Five dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
7. Special fund established. The Treasurer of State shall establish the Autism 
Support Special Programs Fund to increase funding to programs that facilitate the 
principles under Title 34-B. section 5604. 
8. Transfer of fees. On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shall transfer the 
revenue from the issuance and renewal of the autism support registration plates to the 
Treasurer of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 2 and 6. 
SUMMARY 
This bill establishes a specialty license plate to increase funding for autism programs.