An Act To Allow Military Reenlistees To Obtain a Veterans Registration Plate",
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0213
Committee Amendment CA_A_H66 (House)
Amends: 29-A MRSA §523

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,,4 "to H.P. 178, L.D. 213, Bill, "An Act To Allow 
Military Reenlistees To Obtain a Veterans Registration Plate", 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 29-A MRS A §523, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2007, c. 383, § IS, is 
further amended to read: 
3. Special veterans registration plates. The Secretary of State, on application and 
evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482 and the 
registration fee required by section 50 I, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of 
special veterans registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates for a 
vehicle with a registered gross weight of not more than 10,000 pounds to any person who 
has served in the United States Armed Forces and who has been honorably discharged or 
to a person who has served in the United States Anned Forces for at least 3 years and 
continues to serve. If a veteran person who qualifies for a special veterans registration 
plate under this subsection is the primary driver of 3 vehicles, the Secretary of State may 
issue in accordance with this section a set of special veterans registration plates for each 
vehicle. 
Each application must be accompanied by the applicant's Armed Forces Report of 
Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214, Sf certification from the United States Veterans 
Administration or the appropriate branch of the United States Armed Forces verifying the 
applicant's military service and honorable discharge, or a letter from the Department of 
Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services 
verifying active duty military service and length of service. 
The Secretary of State shall recall a special veterans registration plate of a recipient who 
has been less than honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces. 
All surplus revenue collected for issuance of the special registration plates is retained by 
the Secretary of State to maintain and support this program. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT·A "to H.P. 178, L.D. 213 
The surviving spouse of a special veteran plate recipient issued plates in accordance with 
this subsection may retain and display the special veteran plates as long as the surviving 
spouse remains unmarried. 
Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse may not use the 
special veteran plates on a motor vehicle, but may retain them as a keepsake. Upon the 
death of the surviving spouse, the family may retain the special veteran plates, but may 
not use them on a motor vehicle. 
The Secretary of State may issue a special disability registration plate for veterans in 
accordance with section 521, subsections 1, 5, 7 and 9. The special disability registration 
plate for veterans must bear the International Symbol of Access. 
The Secretary of State may issue a set of special veterans registration plates when the 
qualifying veteran is the primary driver of a company~owned vehicle if: 
A. The company is owned solely by a veteran who qualifies for a veteran plate under 
this section; 
B. The vehicle is leased by a veteran who qualifies for the veteran plate under this 
subsection; or 
C. The vehicle is leased by the employer of a veteran who qualifies for the veteran 
plate and the employer has assigned the vehicle exclusively to the veteran. The 
employer must attest in writing that the veteran will have exclusive use of the vehicle 
and agrees to the display of the special veteran plate. 
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §523, sub-§3-A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 376, §1, is 
amended to read: 
3-A. Motorcycle plates; veterans. In addition to any plate issued pursuant to 
subsection 3, the Secretary of State, on application and evidence of payment of the excise 
tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the registration fee required by section 515, 
subsection 1 and a one-time additional fee of$5, shall issue a registration certificate and a 
special veterans registration plate for one designated motorcycle owned or controlled by a 
person who has served in the United States Armed Forces and who has been honorably " 
discharged or to a person who has served in the United States Armed Forces for at least 3 
years and continues to serve. 
Each application must be accompanied by the applicant's Armed Forces Report of 
Transfer or Discharge, DD Form 214, er certification from the United States Department 
of Veterans Affairs or the appropriate branch of the United States Armed Forces 
verifying the applicant's military service and honorable discharge, or a letter from the 
DepaJ1ment of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine 
Veterans' Services verifying active duty military service and length of service. 
The Secretary of State shall recall a special veterans registration plate of a recipient who 
has been less than honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces. 
All surplus revenue collected for issuance of the special veterans registration plates is 
retained by the Secretary of State to maintain and support this program. 
Upon request the Secretary of State shall issue special veterans registration plates for a 
motorcycle that are also vanity plates. These plates are issued in accordance with this 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,·A" to H.P. 178, L.D. 213 
section and section 453. Vanity plates issued under this subsection may not duplicate 
vanity plates issued in another class of plate. 
The surviving spouse of a recipient of a special veterans registration plate issued in 
accordance with this subsection may retain and display the plate as long as the surviving 
spouse remains unmarried. Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse may not use the plate 
on a motorcycle, but may retain it as a keepsake. Upon the death of the surviving spouse, 
the family may retain the plate, but may not use it on a motorcycle. 
The Secretary of State may not issue special commemorative decals under subsection 5 or 
for use on special veterans registration plates for a motorcycle. 
Sec. 3. Special veterans registration plates; inventory; applicants who 
qualify for a special veterans registration plate and continue to serve in the 
United States Armed Forces. The Secretary of State is not required to purchase or 
manufacture additional special veterans registration plates if demand by applicants who 
qualifY for special veterans registration plates exceeds the annual supply of special 
veterans registration plates. If the demand exceeds the annual supply of special veterans 
registration plates, the Secretary of State shall maintain a waiting list of those who qualifY 
for special veterans registration plates and shall issue plates at the earliest date on which 
plates are available.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which replaces the bill, provides that any person who has served in , 
the United States Armed Forces for at least 3 years and who continues to serve qualifies 
for special veterans registration plates for motor vehicles and a motorcycle. 
The 
amendment also directs the Secretary of State to recall the special veterans registration 
plate of a recipient who has been less than honorably discharged from the United States 
Armed Forces. The amendment also provides that the Secretary of State is not required 
to purchase or manufacture additional special veterans registration plates if the demand 
by applicants who qualifY for the plates exceeds the annual supply. If the demand 
exceeds the annual supply, the amendment directs the Secretary of State to maintain a 
waiting list for those who qualifY for special veterans registration plates and to issue 
plates at the earliest date on which plates are available. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/03/09 ;:!;Pac.. 
LD213 
LR 859(02) 
An Act To Allow Military Reenlistees To Obtain a Veterans Registration Plate 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 14" 
Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor cost increase - Highway Fund 
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Additional costs to the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management and the Secretary of State can 
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be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
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LR0859(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1