An Act To Extend the Time Allowed for Selling, Distributing and Displaying the State of Maine Bicentennial Commemorative License Plate and To Allow the Maine Bicentennial Commission To Continue To Serve in 2021
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0779
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: BRYANT, DIAMOND, BABBIDGE
Amends: 29-A MRSA §454

Legislative Document
No. 779
H.P. 584
House of Representatives, March 5, 2021
An Act To Extend the Time Allowed for Selling, Distributing and 
Displaying the State of Maine Bicentennial Commemorative License 
Plate and To Allow the Maine Bicentennial Commission To 
Continue To Serve in 2021
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BRYANT of Windham.
Cosponsored by Senator DIAMOND of Cumberland and
Representative: BABBIDGE of Kennebunk.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the State's COVID-19 response has delayed celebration of the State's 
bicentennial and restrictions on the display of commemorative vehicle registration plates 
prevent their use after December 31, 2020; and
Whereas, this legislation must take effect as soon as possible in order to allow the use 
of commemorative vehicle registration plates in order to celebrate the State's bicentennial; 
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 §454, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by c. 683, Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
2.  Display.  A commemorative plate may be displayed to replace the front registration 
plate on a motor vehicle, except a truck tractor, including a motor vehicle registered outside 
this State and operated within it, from January 1st to December 31st of the year celebrated, 
except that a commemorative plate celebrating the bicentennial of the State may be 
displayed until December 31, 2021.
Sec. 2.  Resolve 2015, c. 23, §1 is amended to read:
Sec. 1.  State of Maine Bicentennial commemorative plate.  Resolved:  That 
the Secretary of State shall issue, at no cost to the Secretary of State, a reflectorized, 
commemorative simulated registration plate in recognition and celebration of the 
bicentennial of the State, which became the 23rd state on March 15, 1820.  The Secretary 
of State shall design the plate, and the plate must bear the date of its expiration, which is 
December 31, 2020 2021.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 
454, the State of Maine Bicentennial commemorative plate may be displayed by covering, 
but not removing, the front registration plate on a motor vehicle, including a motor vehicle 
registered outside this State and operated within it, beginning January 1, 2018 to December 
31, 2020 2021.  The plate may not be displayed on a truck tractor as defined in Title 29-A, 
section 101, subsection 90; and be it further
Sec. 3.  Resolve 2015, c. 23, §2 is amended to read:
Sec. 2.  Administrative fee; distribution.  Resolved:  That the Secretary of State 
shall develop a plan for the sale and distribution of the State of Maine Bicentennial 
commemorative plates, including in 2021.  The fee for the State of Maine Bicentennial 
commemorative plate is $25, which must be credited as follows:
1.  Nine dollars per plate to the Secretary of State for the costs associated with the 
production and issuance of the plates; and
2.  Sixteen dollars per plate to the Maine State Cultural Affairs Council established 
under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 7-A; and be it 
further
Sec. 4.  Resolve 2017, c. 25, §3 is amended to read:
Sec. 3.  Appointment terms.  Resolved:  That the Legislators appointed to the 
commission serve terms coincident with their legislative terms and are appointed every 2 
years.  Legislators may be reappointed to the commission and may continue to serve until 
their replacements are designated.  Other members are appointed for terms that expire 
December 31, 2020 2021; a vacancy is filled in the same manner as the original 
appointment; and be it further
Sec. 5.  Resolve 2017, c. 25, §8 is amended to read:
Sec. 8.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 6, 2017, November 7, 
2018, December 4, 2019 and, November 4, 2020 and December 1, 2021, the commission 
shall submit a progress report that includes its findings and recommendations for 
presentation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
education and cultural affairs; and be it further
Sec. 6.  State of Maine Bicentennial commemorative license plate expiration 
date.  Notwithstanding Resolve 2015, chapter 23, section 1, State of Maine Bicentennial 
commemorative plates that bear a December 31, 2020 expiration date expire December 31, 
2021.
Sec. 7.  Retroactivity.  This Act applies retroactively to December 31, 2020.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill allows the sale, distribution and display of a commemorative vehicle 
registration plate celebrating the State's bicentennial until December 31, 2021.  It allows 
members of the Maine Bicentennial Commission to continue to serve in 2021 and requires 
the commission to make a progress report by December 1, 2021.