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An Act To Establish a Specialty License Plate To Increase Funding for Autism Programs
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §456-G  is enacted to read:
§ 456-G.  Autism support registration plates
The Secretary of State shall issue autism support registration plates beginning November 1, 2009 in accordance with this section. Autism support registration plates are not required for registration of a motor vehicle but are to allow citizens to participate voluntarily to fund a program to benefit programs to support those affected by autism and their families.
 
1.  Autism support registration plate.     The Secretary of State, upon receiving an application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the registration fee required by section 501 and the administrative fee and voluntary contribution provided for in subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of autism support registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates. These plates must bear identification numbers and letters.
 
2.  Administrative fee and contribution to special programs.     A person may contribute to the Autism Support Special Programs Fund established by the Treasurer of State pursuant to subsection 7 by applying for the autism support registration plates and submitting, in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee, a sum of $20 credited as follows:
 
A.   Nine dollars to the Autism Support Special Programs Fund established by the Treasurer of State in subsection 7;
 
B.  Ten dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and
 
C.  One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469.
 
3.  Design.     A sponsor must submit a design for the autism support registration plate to the Secretary of State for approval or modification in accordance with section 468, subsection 5. The Secretary of State shall provide the final design to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters prior to manufacture of the plates.
 
4.  Duplicate plates prohibited.     The Secretary of State shall issue autism support registration plates in a 3-number and 3-letter combination sequence. Vanity plates may not duplicate vanity plates issued in another class of plate.
 
5.  Weight limit.     Autism support registration plates may be issued for a motor vehicle that does not exceed 10,000 pounds. A motor vehicle that exceeds 6,000 pounds is subject to the fees in section 504.
 
6.  Renewal fee.     In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed by law, the annual renewal contribution for autism support registration plates is $15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows:
 
A.  Nine dollars to the Autism Support Special Programs Fund established by the Treasurer of State in subsection 7;
 
B.  Five dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and
 
C.  One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469.
 
7.  Special fund established.     The Treasurer of State shall establish the Autism Support Special Programs Fund to increase funding to programs that facilitate the principles under Title 34-B, section 5604.
 
8.  Transfer of fees.     On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shall transfer the revenue from the issuance and renewal of the autism support registration plates to the Treasurer of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 2 and 6.
 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a specialty license plate to increase funding for autism programs.