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An Act To Broaden Eligibility for Disabled Veterans License Plates
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §523, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2017, c. 43, §1, is further amended to read:
 
2. Disabled veterans; special free license plates.   The Secretary of State, on application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, shall issue a registration certificate and set of special designating plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates for a vehicle with a registered gross weight of not more than 26,000 pounds to any 100%50% disabled veteran when that application is accompanied by certification from the United States Veterans Administration or any branch of the United States Armed Forces as to the veteran's permanent disability and receipt of 100%50% service-connected benefits. A disability placard is issued in addition to the disabled veteran registration plate at no fee.
 
These special designating plates must bear the words "Disabled Veteran," which indicate that the vehicle is owned by a disabled veteran.
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §523, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 734, §2, is amended to read:
 
2-A. Disabled veterans motorcycle license plates.   The Secretary of State shall issue a registration certificate and special designating plate for a motorcycle to be used in lieu of a registration plate issued in subsection 2 to any 100%50% disabled veteran if an applicant submits the following together with an application:
 
A. Evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482; and
 
B. Certification from the United States Veterans Administration or any branch of the United States Armed Forces as to the veteran's permanent disability and receipt of 100%50% service-connected benefits.
 
Notwithstanding section 468, the Secretary of State may issue fewer than 2,000 of the plates authorized by this subsection, and this plate does not require a sponsor. These special designating plates must bear the word "Veteran."
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows veterans who have a disability rating of 50% to obtain disabled veterans license plates.