HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2868        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2963

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Nick Collins

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing distinctive registration motor vehicle plates for Massachusetts Fallen Heroes.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2868        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2963

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act establishing distinctive registration motor vehicle plates for Massachusetts Fallen Heroes.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to to establish forthwith funding and memorial efforts for the men and women of the Commonwealth who served in the armed forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States of America, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 2E of Chapter 90 of the General laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following:

(e)  The registrar shall furnish, upon application, to the owners of private passenger motor vehicles distinctive registration plates which shall display a warrior’s silhouette in the background and a soldier’s cross with a gold star in the background and the words “Honor Their Sacrifice” to honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice while in service to the United States of America.

There shall be a fee of not less than $40 for such plates in addition to the established registration fee for private passenger motor vehicles, which shall be payable at the time of registration of such vehicle and at each renewal thereof.  One such license plate may be issued free of charge to the parents, children, sibling or spouse of a member of the United States armed forces killed in action or who died while in service.

The portion of the total fee remaining after the deduction of the costs directly attributable to the issuance of such plates shall be deposited in a registry retained revenue account and of the remaining portion: (1) 75 per cent shall be directed to the Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund, Inc. and distributed by that fund at its discretion for the benefit of the construction and maintenance of the Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes Memorial and its programs and services, veteran’s memorials and fallen heroes memorials throughout the Commonwealth; (2) 12.5 per cent shall be directed to Massachusetts Fallen Heroes and Veterans Scholarship Fund  and distributed by that fund at its discretion to benefit Veterans of the Global War on Terrorism and Gold Star Families and Siblings with educational assistance; and (3) 12.5  per cent shall be directed to the Veterans Edge Innovation Program to aid veterans.