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An Act To Preserve the "We Support Our Troops" Registration Plate
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  current law requires the Secretary of State to retire speciality license plates when the number of sets issued falls below 4,000; and
Whereas,  the number of "We Support Our Troops" plates will fall below that number imminently, and it is important to preserve that specialty license plate; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §468, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 383, §5, is amended to read:
 
9. Limit on authorization. TheExcept as provided in subsection 9-A, the Secretary of State shall retire and cease to issue any plate authorized after January 1, 2007 upon the occurrence of the earlier of:
 
A. When the number of sets of the plate issued falls below 4,000 for more than one year; and
 
B. Ten years after the date of authorization.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §468, sub-§9-A  is enacted to read:
 
9-A.  Exception to limit on authorization.   The Secretary of State shall retire and cease to issue any plate issued pursuant to section 456-D upon the occurrence of the earlier of:
 
A.  When the number of sets of the plate issued falls below 3,500 for more than one year; and
 
B.  Ten years after the date of authorization.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
Under current law, the Secretary of State is required to retire specialty license plates when the number of sets of the plate issued falls below 4,000. This bill enacts an exception for the “We Support Our Troops” registration plate and sets the minimum number for that specialty plate at 3,500.