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An Act To Exempt Holders of Gold Star Family Registration Plates from Vehicle Registration Fees
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §501, as amended by PL 2015, c. 206, §4 and c. 267, Pt. BBBB, §1, is further amended by adding at the end a new paragraph to read:
A person possessing or applying for a registration certificate and a set of gold star family registration plates pursuant to section 524-B is exempt from registration fees under this section for the motor vehicle registered or to be registered.
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §524-B, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 17, §1 and affected by §3, is further amended to read:
 
1. Eligibility.   Notwithstanding the requirements in section 468-A, the Secretary of State, upon application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482 and the annual motor vehicle registration fee required by section 501, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of gold star family registration plates, to be used in lieu of regular registration plates, to:
 
A. A person who is eligible to receive a gold star lapel button under 10 United States Code, Section 1126 (2010);
 
B. A grandparent of a member of the United States Armed Forces, if that member dies after March 28, 1973 as a result of:
 
(1) An international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the United States Secretary of Defense; or
 
(2) Military operations while serving outside the United States, including the commonwealths, territories and possessions of the United States, as a part of a peacekeeping force;
 
C. A person who is not eligible to receive a gold star lapel button under 10 United States Code, Section 1126 (2010) but who is eligible for a lapel button for next of kin of deceased personnel under 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 578.63 (2006); and
 
D. A grandparent of a member of the United States Armed Forces, if that member dies while serving on active duty or while assigned in the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces or Army National Guard unit in a drill status.
 
SUMMARY
This bill exempts a person possessing or applying for a registration certificate and a set of gold star family registration plates from the annual motor vehicle registration fee.