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 55-4-341 - Children's hospitals

(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 for in §
55-4-204
, shall be issued a Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by §
55-4-210(c)
.
(2)
The purpose of the new specialty earmarked plates provided for in this subsection (a) is to recognize and support the many contributions to children's health care made by the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. The plates must bear an appropriate design or logo that represents the commitment to children's health care exhibited by the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. The plates must be designed in consultation with the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust.
(3)
The funds produced from the sale of Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, in accordance with §
55-4-301
.
(b)
(1)
Owners or lessees of motor vehicles who are residents of the 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 East Tennessee Children's Hospital 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 bear an appropriate design of the East Tennessee Children's Hospital and be designed in consultation with the chair of the board. The design of the plates may be identical to the East Tennessee Children's Hospital plates previously authorized by chapter 876 of the Public Acts of 2002.
(3)
The funds produced from the sale of East Tennessee Children's Hospital new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to the East Tennessee Children's Hospital, in accordance with §
55-4-301
. The funds must be used exclusively in furtherance of such organization's activities in this state.
(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 a Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by §
55-4-210(c)
.
(2)
The purpose of the new specialty earmarked plates provided for in this subsection (c) is to recognize, commemorate, and celebrate the many healthcare contributions made by Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center. The plates must bear an appropriate design or logo that depicts through words or pictures the many healthcare contributions made by Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center. The plates must be designed in consultation with the board of directors for Methodist Health Systems of Memphis and West Tennessee.
(3)
The funds produced from the sale of Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to the Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, in accordance with §
55-4-301
.
(d)
(1)
Owners or lessees of motor vehicles who are residents 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 Niswonger Children's Hospital new specialty earmarked plate for a motor vehicle authorized by §
55-4-210(c)
.
(2)
The new specialty earmarked plates provided for in this subsection (d) must contain a logo or other design representative of the mission of Niswonger Children's Hospital. The plates must be designed in consultation with the administration and governing body of Niswonger Children's Hospital.
(3)
Funds produced from the sale of Niswonger Children's Hospital new specialty earmarked plates must be allocated to the Mountain States Health Foundation in accordance with §
55-4-301
. The funds must be used for the sole purpose of developing and expanding Niswonger Children's Hospital, the Tri-Cities region's only children's hospital.
(4)
(A)
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a person issued a Children's Hospital at Johnson City Medical Center new specialty earmarked plate authorized and issued prior to July 1, 2009, is entitled to retain the license plate for vehicular use upon compliance with all motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and payment of all required fees.
(B)
Children's Hospital at Johnson City Medical Center new specialty earmarked plates must be included in any calculations for issuance and continuation of issuance of Niswonger Children's Hospital new specialty earmarked plates authorized pursuant to this subsection (d).
(C)
A Children's Hospital at Johnson City Medical Center new specialty earmarked plate is not required to be replaced with a redesigned license plate issued pursuant to this subsection (d) until such time as the next regular replacement of the previously issued plate is scheduled; provided, that a person previously issued a Children's Hospital at Johnson City Medical Center new specialty earmarked plate may request a redesigned Niswonger Children's Hospital new specialty earmarked plate, if issued, at the time of their next regular renewal.
(D)
If Niswonger Children's Hospital at Johnson City Medical Center new specialty earmarked plates are subsequently deemed obsolete pursuant to §
55-4-202(g)(1)
, then the determination also applies to all Children's Hospital at Johnson City Medical Center new specialty earmarked plates previously issued.
(5)
Notwithstanding §
55-4-202(g)(1)
, the Niswonger Children's Hospital new specialty earmarked license plate authorized pursuant to this subsection (d) has until July 1, 2025, to meet the applicable minimum issuance requirements of §
55-4-202(g)(1)
.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 804,s 43, eff. 7/1/2024.
Added by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 250, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023.