An Act To
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0173
Committee Amendment CA_A_H8 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 131, L.D. 173, Bill, "An Act To 
Amend the Laws Governing the Gold Star Family Registration Plate and To Establish an 
Honorable Service Military Family Registration Plate" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Gold Star Family Registration Plate' 
Amend the bill by inserting after the enacting clause and before section 1 the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §S24-B, sub-§§ 1 and 2, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 246, § 1, 
are amended to read: 
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, 
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 .. ~ 
C. A person who is not eligible to receive a gold star lapel button under 10 United 
States Code, Section 1126 (2010) but who is eligible for a lapel button for next of kin 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A "to H.P. 131, L.D. 173 
of deceased personnel under 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 578.63 (200b); 
and 
D. A grandparent of a member of the United States Armed Forces, if that member 
dies while serving on active duty or while assigned in the reserve components of the 
United Statys Armed Forces or Army National Guard unit in a drill status. 
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 burton. 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.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. Contingent effective date" That section of this Act that amends the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 524-B, subsections 1 and 2 does not take 
I~ffect unless the Department of the Secretary of State receives donations from any public 
or private source to cover the costs of gold star family registration plates for those eligible 
a.s a result of this Act. Donations ~nder this section must be deposited into the Specialty 
License Plate Fund established in Title 29-A, section 469. The Secretary of State shall 
notify the Secretary of the Senate, the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the 
Revisor of Statutes when the Department of the Secretary of State. has received the 
donations required under this section.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment provides for issuance: of gold star family registration plates for 
family members, including. grandparents, ofa person who dies while honorably serving as 
an active member of the United States Anl1.ed Forces who did not fit the gold star lapel 
button guidelines established in 10 United States Code, Section 1126 (2010) rather than 
I~stablishing a new honorable service military family registration plate as proposed by the 
bill. The amendment also provides that the issuance of gold star family registration plates 
for those newly eligible is contingent upon the Department of the Secretary of State 
receiving donations from any pUblic or private source to cover the cost of the registration 
plates. The amendment retains the provision of the bill providing for the issuance of gold 
star family vanity registration plates .. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 03/04/15 
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LD 173 
LR 653(02) 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Gold Star Family Registration Plate and To Establish an 
Honorable Service Military Family Registration Plate 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '1\ ( H ,g) 
Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Highway Fund 
Additional costs to the Department of the Secretary of State associated with this legislation can be absorbed within 
existing budgeted resources. 
LR0653(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I