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An Act To Allow Military Reenlistees To Obtain a Veterans Registration Plate
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §523, sub-§3-B  is enacted to read:
 
3-B.  Special veterans registration plates and reenlistees.   The Secretary of State, on application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482 and the registration fee required by section 501, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of special veterans registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates for a vehicle with a registered gross weight of not more than 10,000 pounds to any person who has served in the United States Armed Forces for at least one tour of duty and who has reenlisted. If a reenlistee is the primary driver of 3 vehicles, the Secretary of State may issue in accordance with this section a set of special veterans registration plates for each vehicle.
 
Each application must be accompanied by certification from the appropriate branch of the United States Armed Forces verifying the applicant's military service and reenlistment.
 
All surplus revenue collected for issuance of the special veterans registration plates is retained by the Secretary of State to maintain and support this program.
 
The surviving spouse of a special veterans registration plate recipient issued plates in accordance with this subsection may retain and display the special veterans registration plates as long as the surviving spouse remains unmarried. Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse may not use the special veterans registration plates on a motor vehicle, but may retain them as a keepsake. Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the family may retain the special veterans registration plates, but may not use them on a motor vehicle.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §523, sub-§3-C  is enacted to read:
 
3-C.  Veterans motorcycle registration plates; reenlistees.   In addition to any plate issued pursuant to subsection 3-B, the Secretary of State, on application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the registration fee required by section 515, subsection 1 and a one-time additional fee of $5, shall issue a registration certificate and a special veterans registration plate for one designated motorcycle owned or controlled by a person who has served in the United States Armed Forces for at least one tour of duty and who has reenlisted.
 
Each application must be accompanied by certification from the appropriate branch of the United States Armed Forces verifying the applicant's military service and reenlistment.
 
All surplus revenue collected for issuance of the special veterans registration plates is retained by the Secretary of State to maintain and support this program.
 
Upon request the Secretary of State shall issue special veterans registration plates for a motorcycle that are also vanity plates. These plates are issued in accordance with this section and section 453. Vanity plates issued under this subsection may not duplicate vanity plates issued in another class of plate.
 
The surviving spouse of a recipient of a special veterans registration plate issued in accordance with this subsection may retain and display the plate as long as the surviving spouse remains unmarried. Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse may not use the plate on a motorcycle, but may retain it as a keepsake. Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the family may retain the plate, but may not use it on a motorcycle.
 
The Secretary of State may not issue special commemorative decals under subsection 5 or 6 for use on special veterans registration plates for a motorcycle.
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §523, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2005, c. 683, Pt. A, §§47 and 48, is further amended to read:
 
5. Special commemorative decals for medals awarded. The Secretary of State may issue special commemorative decals for use with special veterans registration plates to any person who served in the United States Armed Forces, was honorably discharged and was awarded a medal described in paragraphs A to QU when that person's application is accompanied by the appropriate military certification verifying that the medal was awarded to the applicant. One set of commemorative decals may be issued for each set of special veterans registration plates issued under this section. One set of 2 commemorative decals must be displayed on the front and back plates. The fee for a set of commemorative decals may not exceed $5. A person who served a minimum of one tour of duty and who shows proof of military service and proof of reenlistment in the United States Armed Forces and receives a special veterans registration plate for vehicles pursuant to subsection 3-B is eligible to be issued commemorative decals under this section.
 
Special commemorative decals may be issued to applicants awarded the following medals:
 
A.  Distinguished Service Cross;
 
B.  Navy Cross;
 
C.  Air Force Cross;
 
D.  Silver Star;
 
E.  Distinguished Flying Cross;
 
F.  Bronze Star;
 
G.  Soldier's Medal;
 
H.  Navy or Marine Corps Medal;
 
I.  Airman's Medal;
 
J.  Coast Guard Medal;
 
K.  Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal;
 
L.  European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal;
 
M.  Korean Service Medal;
 
N.  Vietnam Service Medal;
 
O.  Southwest Asia Service Medal;
 
P.  Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal;
 
Q.  Kosovo Service Medal;
 
R.  Korea Defense Service Medal;
 
S.  Global War on Terrorism Medal;
 
T.  Iraq Campaign Medal; and
 
U.  Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows a person who served at least one tour of duty in the United States Armed Forces and who reenlists into the United States Armed Forces to be eligible to receive veterans registration plates for vehicles and motorcycles upon application. It also adds reenlistees to those eligible to receive the special commemorative decals for medals awarded.