2023 Tennessee Code › Title 55 - MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES (§§ 55-1-101 — 55-53-105) › Chapter 4 - REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES (§§ 55-4-NEW — 55-4-702) › Part 3 - SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES - CONTINUED (§§ 55-4-301 — 55-4-399) › Section 55-4-344 - Medical condition or disease support and awareness

(a)
(1)
An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided in §
55-4-204
, shall be issued a Pat Summitt Foundation new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by §
55-4-210(c)
.
(2)
The new specialty earmarked plates provided for in this subsection (a) must be designed in consultation with a representative from the Pat Summitt Foundation.
(3)
The funds produced from the sale of the Pat Summitt Foundation new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to the Pat Summitt Foundation, in accordance with §
55-4-301
. The funds must be used exclusively to award grants to nonprofit organizations that advance research for treatment and a cure for Alzheimer's disease, provide support for patients and caregivers, and educate the public on Alzheimer's disease.
(b)
(1)
An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in §
55-4-204
, shall be issued a Down Syndrome Awareness new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by §
55-4-210(c)
.
(2)
The new specialty earmarked plates provided for in this subsection (b) must contain the logo or other appropriate design representative of the Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee. The plates must be designed in consultation with the Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee.
(3)
The funds produced from the sale of the new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to the Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee, in accordance with §
55-4-301
. The funds must be used solely to provide education, advocacy, and support resources for individuals with Down Syndrome and their families.
(c)
(1)
An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in §
55-4-204
, shall be issued an Autism Awareness new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by §
55-4-210(c)
.
(2)
The new specialty earmarked plates provided for in this subsection (c) must bear a logo or other appropriate emblem designed to raise public awareness about autism. The plates must be designed in consultation with ASMT, Inc.
(3)
In accordance with §
55-4-301
, funds produced from the sale of the Autism Awareness new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to ASMT, Inc. for distribution to ASMT, Inc., Autism Society of East Tennessee, and the Autism Society of the MidSouth. The funds must be used exclusively to support, educate, advocate, and raise public awareness about autism in Tennessee.
(d)
[Obsolete. See Compiler's Notes.]
(e)
(1)
An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in §
55-4-204
, shall be issued a Lupus Foundation new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by §
55-4-210(c)
.
(2)
The new specialty earmarked license plates provided for in this subsection (e) must be designed in consultation with a representative of Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
(3)
The funds produced from the sale of Lupus Foundation new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., in accordance with §
55-4-301
. The funds must be used exclusively in Tennessee to improve the quality of life for Tennessee residents affected by lupus through programs of research, education, support, and advocacy.
(f)
(1)
An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in §
55-4-204
, shall be issued a Crusade Against Darkness new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by §
55-4-210(c)
.
(2)
The new specialty earmarked license plates provided for in this subsection (f) must be designed in consultation with a representative of Middle Tennessee Lions Sight Service, Inc.
(3)
(A)
Subject to the requirements of §
55-4-202
, the commissioner is authorized and shall issue a registration plate to an owner or lessee of a motorcycle who is otherwise eligible for a Crusade Against Darkness new specialty earmarked license plate; provided, however, that the owner or lessee shall comply with the state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motorcycles and shall pay the regular fee applicable to motorcycles and the applicable fee specified in §
55-4-204
prior to the issuance of the plate.
(B)
The motorcycle plates authorized by this subsection (f) must be substantially the same in design and configuration, allowing for variations due to size restrictions, as the regular motor vehicle registration plates authorized by §
55-4-203(c)(7)
, as applicable.
(4)
The funds produced from the sale of Crusade Against Darkness new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to Middle Tennessee Lions Sight Service, Inc., in accordance with §
55-4-301
. The funds must be used exclusively in furtherance of the organization's activities in this state and its mission to help save eyesight for residents of Middle Tennessee in need.
(g)
(1)
An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in §
55-4-204
, must be issued a Wilder Reign new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by §
55-4-210(c)
.
(2)
The new specialty earmarked license plates provided for in this subsection (g) must be designed in consultation with a representative of Wilder Reign.
(3)
The funds produced from the sale of Wilder Reign new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to Wilder Reign in accordance with §
55-4-301
. The funds must be used exclusively to provide supportive resources to individuals impacted by major medical, mental health, and terminal illnesses.
(h)
(1)
An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided in §
55-4-204
, shall be issued a Sickle Cell Foundation new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by §
55-4-210(c)
.
(2)
The new specialty earmarked plates provided for in this subsection (h) must be designed in consultation with a representative from the Sickle Cell Foundation of Tennessee.
(3)
The funds produced from the sale of the Sickle Cell Foundation new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to the Sickle Cell Foundation of Tennessee in accordance with §
55-4-301
. The funds must be used exclusively to provide educational awareness, comprehensive social services, and collective supportive impact to all persons affected by Sickle Cell Disease within service areas in Tennessee.
(i)
(1)
An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in § 55-4-204, shall be issued an End Overdose new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c).
(2)
The new specialty earmarked plates provided for in this subsection ( ) must be designed in consultation with a representative of Hustle Recovery, Inc.
(3)
The funds produced from the sale of End Overdose new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to Hustle Recovery, Inc., in accordance with § 55-4-301. The funds must be used exclusively to support the organization's mission of helping persons struggling with addiction get into treatment, recovery programs, and housing, as well as with basic and immediate needs, including clothing, toiletries, and transportation to treatment.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 804,s 22, eff. 7/1/2024.
Added by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 250, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023.