HB1191: HB1191 Motor vehicles; additional military medal awards eligible for special veteran license plates; provide

26 LC 63 0153S The Senate Committee on Public Safety offered the following substitute to HB 1191: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, so as2 to provide for additional military medal awards eligible for special veteran license plates; to3 provide for a specialty license plate for United States Navy submarine service members; to4 provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and5 for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to 9 prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, is amended in Code10 Section 40-2-85.1, relating to license plates for certain veterans, by revising paragraph (1)11 of subsection (a) as follows:12 "(1) 'Military medal award' means the following medals, decorations, or other recognition13 of honor for military service awarded by a branch of the United States military:14 (A) Medal of Honor;15 (B) Bronze Star Medal;16 - 1 - 26 LC 63 0153S (C) Silver Star Medal;17 (D) Distinguished Service Cross;18 (E) Navy Cross;19 (F) Air Force Cross;20 (G) Defense Distinguished Service Medal;21 (H) Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal;22 (I) Distinguished Service Medal;23 (J) Navy Distinguished Service Medal;24 (K) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal;25 (L) Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal;26 (M) Defense Superior Service Medal;27 (N) Legion of Merit;28 (O) Distinguished Flying Cross;29 (P) Purple Heart;30 (Q) Air Medal;31 (R) Soldier's Medal; and32 (S) Meritorious Service Medal;33 (T) Navy Corps Medal;34 (U) Marine Corps Medal;35 (V) Airman's Medal;36 (W) Coast Guard Medal; and37 (X) Combat Infantryman Badge."38 SECTION 2.39 Said article is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:40 - 2 - 26 LC 63 0153S "40-2-85.5.41 (a)(1) Motor vehicle owners who are members of the United Stat es Navy submarine42 service shall be eligible to receive special and distinctive vehicle license plates for private43 passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles u sed for personal44 transportation. Such license plates shall be issued in complia nce with the state motor45 vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor ve hicles as prescribed in46 Article 2 of this chapter.47 (2) Motor vehicle owners who are retired members of the United States Navy submarine48 service shall be eligible to receive special and distinctive vehicle license plates for private49 passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles u sed for personal50 transportation. Such license plates shall be issued in complia nce with the state motor51 vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor ve hicles as prescribed in52 Article 2 of this chapter.53 (3) The special and distinctive vehicle license plates issued pursuant to paragraph (2) of54 this subsection shall contain the word 'RETIRED' in the locatio n of and in lieu of the55 name of the county of issuance.56 (b) A person who qualifies for the special and distinctive lic ense plate pursuant to57 subsection (a) of this Code section shall make application therefor with the commissioner58 and include the requisite fee. The commissioner shall design a distinctive license plate as59 provided in subsection (c) of this Code section and issue the d istinctive license plates to60 qualifying applicants. There shall be no minimum required number of applicants for such61 distinctive license plate. The commissioner shall promulgate s uch rules and regulations62 as may be necessary to enforce compliance with all state licens e laws relating to the use63 and operation of private passenger cars and trucks before issuing these license plates in lieu64 of the regular Georgia license plates. The additional manufact uring fee for such special65 and distinctive license plates shall be $25.00. The commissioner is specifically authorized66 - 3 - 26 LC 63 0153S to promulgate all rules and regulations necessary to ensure compliance in instances where67 such vehicles have been transferred or sold.68 (c) The special and distinctive vehicle license plates issued by this Code section shall be69 as prescribed in Article 2 of this chapter for private passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, or70 recreational vehicles used for personal transportation, except that the commissioner shall71 include a special design to identify the owner as a member of t he United States Navy72 submarine service.73 (d) The license plate issued pursuant to this Code section sha ll be transferred between74 vehicles as provided in Code Section 40-2-80."75 SECTION 3.76 This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2027.77 SECTION 4.78 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.79 - 4 -