Georgia HB 717: Special license plates; women veterans; provide

Bill Text

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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,1
relating to prestige license plates and special license plates for certain persons and vehicles,2
so as to provide for a woman veteran's license plate; to provide for definitions; to provide for3
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5
SECTION 1.6
Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to7
prestige license plates and special license plates for certain persons and vehicles, is amended8
by revising Code Section 40-2-85.1, relating to special and distinctive license plates for9
veterans, as follows:10
"40-2-85.1.11
(a) For purposes of this Code section, the term:12
(1) 'Military medal award' means the following medals, decorations, or other recognition13
of honor for military service awarded by a branch of the United States military:14
(A) Medal of Honor;15
(B) Bronze Star Medal;16
(C) Silver Star Medal;17
(D) Distinguished Service Cross;18
(E) Navy Cross;19
(F) Air Force Cross;20
(G) Defense Distinguished Service Medal;21
(H) Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal;22
(I) Distinguished Service Medal;23
(J) Navy Distinguished Service Medal;24
(K) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal;25
(L) Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal;26

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(M) Defense Superior Service Medal;27
(N) Legion of Merit;28
(O) Distinguished Flying Cross;29
(P) Purple Heart; and30
(Q) Air Medal.31
(2) 'Served during active military combat' means active duty service in World War I,32
World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, the Global33
War on Terrorism as defined by Presidential Executive Order 13289, Section 2, the war34
in Afghanistan, or the war in Iraq, which includes either Operation Iraqi Freedom or35
Operation Enduring Freedom.36
(3) 'Veteran' means a former member of the armed forces of the United States who is37
discharged from the armed forces under conditions other than dishonorable.38
(4) 'Woman veteran' and 'women veterans' means former female members of the armed39
forces of the United States who are discharged from the armed forces under conditions40
other than dishonorable.41
(b)(1) Motor vehicle and trailer owners who are veterans or women veterans, of the42
armed forces of the United States, or who have received a military medal award, or43
persons who served during active military combat shall be eligible to receive special and44
distinctive vehicle license plates for private passenger cars, motorcycles, trucks, or45
recreational vehicles used for personal transportation. Such license plates shall be issued46
in compliance with the state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of47
motor vehicles as prescribed in Article 2 of this chapter.48
(2)(A) Motor vehicle and trailer owners who are veterans or women veterans, who or49
have received a military medal award, or who served during active military combat50
shall be issued upon application for and upon compliance with the state motor vehicle51
laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles a veteran's license plate, a52
woman veteran's license plate, a military medal award recipient license plate, or a53
commemorative service license plate for service during active military combat. One54
such license plate shall be issued without the requisite registration fee, manufacturing55
fee, or annual registration fee.56
(B) Each member or former member of the armed forces of the United States listed in57
this subsection shall be entitled to no more than one such free license plate at a time;58
provided, however, that upon payment of a manufacturing fee of $25.00, a member59
shall be entitled to one additional such license plate. For each additional license plate60
for which a $25.00 manufacturing fee is required, there shall be an additional annual61
registration fee of $25.00, and such which fee shall be collected by the county tag agent62

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at the time of collection of other registration fees and shall be remitted to the state as63
provided in Code Section 40-2-34.64
(c) The commissioner shall design a veteran's license plate, a woman veteran's license65
plate, a military medal award recipient license plate, and a license plate to commemorate66
service with the United States armed forces during active military combat. The67
commissioner shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to enforce68
compliance with all state license laws relating to the use and operation of private passenger69
cars, motorcycles, trucks, and trailers before issuing these such license plates in lieu of the70
regular Georgia license plates. The manufacturing fee for such special and distinctive71
license plates shall be $25.00. The commissioner is specifically authorized to promulgate72
all rules and regulations necessary to en