An Act Honoring Gold Star Families through Special Registration Plates
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1529
Committee Amendment CA_A_H355 (House)
Amends: 29-A MRSA §524-B

125TH LEGISLATURE ' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to H.P. 1123, L.D. 1529, Bill, "An Act 
Honoring Gold Star Families through Special Registration Plates" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, it is important to recognize that the families who have borne the solemn 
burden of losing a loved one in the cause of freedom rightfully hold a special place 
among us; and 
Whereas, the gold star family registration plates established in this legislation will 
help to show the gratitude and sympathy of the people of the State of Maine as the 
families continue to live their lives in quiet dignity; and 
Whereas, recognizing the service of men and women in defense of their nation is 
long overdue; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §524-B is enacted to read: 
§S24-B. Gold star family registration plates 
1. Eligibility. Notwithstanding the requirements in section 468-A, the Secretary of 
State, upon application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 
36, section 1482 and the annual motor vehicle registration fee required by section 501, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A .. to H.P. 1123, L.D. 1529 
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. A person who is eligible to receive a gold star lapel button under 10 United States 
Code, Section 1126 (2010); and 
B. A grandparent of a member of the United States Armed Forces, if that member 
dies after March 28, 1973 as a result of: 
(1) An international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation 
friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the United States 
Secretary of Defense; or 
(2) Military operations while serving outside the United States, including the 
commonwealths, territories and possessions of the United States, as a part of a 
peacekeeping force. 
2. 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, in consultation with the Department of Defense, Veterans, and 
Emergency Management, 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 one vehiCle. 
3. Design. The Secretary of State shall determine the design of the gold star family 
registration plate. 
A person who does not operate a motor vehicle or register a motor vehicle and who 
otherwise qualifies for the issuance of 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 special single plates for recognition purposes only. 
Special single plates may not be attached to a motor vehicle. Only one special single plate 
may be issued to each recipient at no fee. 
The Secretary of State shall begin issuing gold star family registration plates in 
accordance with this section no later than October 1, 2011. 
Sec. 2. Donations for gold star family registration plates. Any donations 
from any public or private source received by the Department of the Secretary of State for 
gold star family registration plates must be deposited into the Specialty License Plate 
Fund established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 469. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment does the following. 
1. It adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause to the bill. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A" to H.P. 1123, L.D. 1529 
2. It strikes the provision that proposes to allow the Secretary of State to issue gold 
star family registration plates for motorcycles. 
3. 
It strikes the requirement that the Secretary of State issue gold star family 
registration plates that are also vanity plates. 
4. It specifies that an applicant may be issued gold star family registration plates for 
no more than one vehicle. 
5. It provides that a single gold star family registration plate, which may not be 
attached to a motor vehicle and is issued for recognition purposes only, is provided at no 
fee. 
6. It changes the date by which the Secretary of State must begin issuing gold star 
family registration plates from January 1,2012 to October 1,2011. 
7. It provides that any donations received for gold star family registration plates be 
deposited into the Specialty License Plate Fund. 
nSCAL :\OTE REQL'IRED 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: OS/24111 
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LD 1529 
LR 2144(02) 
An Act Honoring Gold Star Families through Special Registration Plates 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A, 
Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
No net fiscal impact 
This bill creates the gold star family registration plate. Donations for the cost of the plates will be deposited into the 
Department of Secretary of State, Specialty License Plate Fund. Adequate allocation exists within this Fund to cover 
the cost of the initial plates. Additional costs to the Department of Secretary of State associated with replacing license 
plates and updating registrations for qualifying families are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing 
budgeted resources. 
LR2144(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1