1     
VETERANS LICENSE PLATES AMENDMENTS

2     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Todd Weiler

5     
House Sponsor: Paul Ray

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill creates special recognition license plates for the Silver Star, Air Force Cross,
10     Navy Cross, and Distinguished Service Cross.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     creates special recognition license plates for the:
14               •     Silver Star;
15               •     Air Force Cross;
16               •     Navy Cross; and
17               •     Distinguished Service Cross.
18     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19          None
20     Other Special Clauses:
21          None
22     Utah Code Sections Affected:
23     AMENDS:
24          41-1a-418, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 38, 127, 213, and 392
25          41-1a-421, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 39
26     

27     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

28          Section 1. Section 41-1a-418 is amended to read:
29          41-1a-418. Authorized special group license plates.
30          (1) The division shall only issue special group license plates in accordance with this
31     section through Section 41-1a-422 to a person who is specified under this section within the
32     categories listed as follows:
33          (a) disability special group license plates issued in accordance with Section 41-1a-420;
34          (b) honor special group license plates, as in a war hero, which plates are issued for a:
35          (i) survivor of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor;
36          (ii) former prisoner of war;
37          (iii) recipient of a Purple Heart;
38          (iv) disabled veteran;
39          (v) recipient of a gold star award issued by the United States Secretary of Defense; [or]
40          (vi) recipient of a campaign or combat theater award determined by the Department of
41     Veterans and Military Affairs;
42          (vii) recipient of the Silver Star;
43          (viii) recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross;
44          (ix) recipient of the Air Force Cross; or
45          (x) recipient of the Navy Cross;
46          (c) unique vehicle type special group license plates, as for historical, collectors value,
47     or other unique vehicle type, which plates are issued for:
48          (i) a special interest vehicle;
49          (ii) a vintage vehicle;
50          (iii) a farm truck; or
51          (iv) (A) until Subsection (1)(c)(iv)(B) or (4) applies, a vehicle powered by clean fuel as
52     defined in Section 59-13-102; or
53          (B) beginning on the effective date of rules made by the Department of Transportation
54     authorized under Subsection 41-6a-702(5)(b) and until Subsection (4) applies, a vehicle
55     powered by clean fuel that meets the standards established by the Department of Transportation
56     in rules authorized under Subsection 41-6a-702(5)(b);
57          (d) recognition special group license plates, which plates are issued for:
58          (i) a current member of the Legislature;

59          (ii) a current member of the United States Congress;
60          (iii) a current member of the National Guard;
61          (iv) a licensed amateur radio operator;
62          (v) a currently employed, volunteer, or retired firefighter until June 30, 2009;
63          (vi) an emergency medical technician;
64          (vii) a current member of a search and rescue team;
65          (viii) a current honorary consulate designated by the United States Department of
66     State;
67          (ix) an individual supporting commemoration and recognition of women's suffrage;
68          (x) an individual supporting a fraternal, initiatic order for those sharing moral and
69     metaphysical ideals, and designed to teach ethical and philosophical matters of brotherly love,
70     relief, and truth; or
71          (xi) an individual supporting the Utah Wing of the Civil Air Patrol; or
72          (e) support special group license plates, as for a contributor to an institution or cause,
73     which plates are issued for a contributor to:
74          (i) an institution's scholastic scholarship fund;
75          (ii) the Division of Wildlife Resources;
76          (iii) the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs;
77          (iv) the Division of Parks and Recreation;
78          (v) the Department of Agriculture and Food;
79          (vi) the Guardian Ad Litem Services Account and the Children's Museum of Utah;
80          (vii) the Boy Scouts of America;
81          (viii) spay and neuter programs through No More Homeless Pets in Utah;
82          (ix) the Boys and Girls Clubs of America;
83          (x) Utah public education;
84          (xi) programs that provide support to organizations that create affordable housing for
85     those in severe need through the Division of Real Estate;
86          (xii) the Department of Public Safety;
87          (xiii) programs that support Zion National Park;
88          (xiv) beginning on July 1, 2009, programs that provide support to firefighter
89     organizations;

90          (xv) programs that promote bicycle operation and safety awareness;
91          (xvi) programs that conduct or support cancer research;
92          (xvii) programs that create or support autism awareness;
93          (xviii) programs that create or support humanitarian service and educational and
94     cultural exchanges;
95          (xix) until September 30, 2017, programs that conduct or support prostate cancer
96     awareness, screening, detection, or prevention;
97          (xx) programs that support and promote adoptions;
98          (xxi) programs that create or support civil rights education and awareness;
99          (xxii) programs that support issues affecting women and children through an
100     organization affiliated with a national professional men's basketball organization;
101          (xxiii) programs that strengthen youth soccer, build communities, and promote
102     environmental sustainability through an organization affiliated with a professional men's soccer
103     organization;
104          (xxiv) programs that support children with heart disease;
105          (xxv) programs that support the operation and maintenance of the Utah Law
106     Enforcement Memorial;
107          (xxvi) programs that provide assistance to children with cancer;
108          (xxvii) programs that promote leadership and career development through agricultural
109     education;
110          (xxviii) the Utah State Historical Society;
111          (xxix) programs to transport veterans to visit memorials honoring the service and
112     sacrifices of veterans; or
113          (xxx) programs that promote motorcycle safety awareness.
114          (2) (a) The division may not issue a new type of special group license plate or decal
115     unless the division receives:
116          (i) (A) a private donation for the start-up fee established under Section 63J-1-504 for
117     the production and administrative costs of providing the new special group license plates or
118     decals; or
119          (B) a legislative appropriation for the start-up fee provided under Subsection
120     (2)(a)(i)(A); and

121          (ii) beginning on January 1, 2012, and for the issuance of a support special group
122     license plate authorized in Section 41-1a-422, at least 500 completed applications for the new
123     type of support special group license plate or decal to be issued with all fees required under this
124     part for the support special group license plate or decal issuance paid by each applicant.
125          (b) (i) Beginning on January 1, 2012, each participating organization shall collect and
126     hold applications for support special group license plates or decals authorized in Section
127     41-1a-422 on or after January 1, 2012, until it has received at least 500 applications.
128          (ii) Once a participating organization has received at least 500 applications, it shall
129     submit the applications, along with the necessary fees, to the division for the division to begin
130     working on the design and issuance of the new type of support special group license plate or
131     decal to be issued.
132          (iii) Beginning on January 1, 2012, the division may not work on the issuance or design
133     of a new support special group license plate or decal authorized in Section 41-1a-422 until the
134     applications and fees required under this Subsection (2) have been received by the division.
135          (iv) The division shall begin issuance of a new support special group license plate or
136     decal authorized in Section 41-1a-422 on or after January 1, 2012, no later than six months
137     after receiving the applications and fees required under this Subsection (2).
138          (c) (i) Beginning on July 1, 2009, the division may not renew a motor vehicle
139     registration of a motor vehicle that has been issued a firefighter recognition special group
140     license plate unless the applicant is a contributor as defined in Subsection
141     41-1a-422(1)(a)(ii)(D) to the Firefighter Support Restricted Account.
142          (ii) A registered owner of a vehicle that has been issued a firefighter recognition
143     special group license plate prior to July 1, 2009, upon renewal of the owner's motor vehicle
144     registration shall:
145          (A) be a contributor to the Firefighter Support Restricted Account as required under
146     Subsection (2)(c)(i); or
147          (B) replace the firefighter recognition special group license plate with a new license
148     plate.
149          (3) Beginning on July 1, 2011, if a support special group license plate or decal type
150     authorized in Section 41-1a-422 and issued on or after January 1, 2012, has fewer than 500
151     license plates issued each year for a three consecutive year time period that begins on July 1,

152     the division may not issue that type of support special group license plate or decal to a new
153     applicant beginning on January 1 of the following calendar year after the three consecutive year
154     time period for which that type of support special group license plate or decal has fewer than
155     500 license plates issued each year.
156          (4) Beginning on July 1, 2011, the division may not issue to an applicant a unique
157     vehicle type license plate for a vehicle powered by clean fuel under Subsection (1)(c)(iv).
158          (5) (a) Beginning on October 1, 2017, the division may not issue a new prostate cancer
159     support special group license plate.
160          (b) A registered owner of a vehicle that has been issued a prostate cancer support
161     special group license plate before October 1, 2017, may renew the owner's motor vehicle
162     registration, with the contribution allocated as described in Section 41-1a-422.
163          Section 2. Section 41-1a-421 is amended to read:
164          41-1a-421. Honor special group license plates -- Personal identity requirements.
165          (1) (a) The requirements of this Subsection (1) apply to a vehicle displaying a:
166          (i) survivor of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor license plate;
167          (ii) former prisoner of war license plate;
168          (iii) Purple Heart license plate;
169          (iv) disabled veteran license plate; or
170          (v) campaign or combat theater award license plate.
171          (b) The vehicle shall be titled in the name of the veteran or the veteran and spouse.
172          (c) Upon the death of the veteran, the surviving spouse may, upon application to the
173     division, retain the special group license plate decal so long as the surviving spouse remains
174     unmarried.
175          (d) The division shall require the surviving spouse to make a sworn statement that the
176     surviving spouse is unmarried before renewing the registration under this section.
177          (2) Proper evidence of a Purple Heart is either:
178          (a) a membership card in the Military Order of the Purple Heart; or
179          (b) an original or certificate in lieu of the applicant's military discharge form, DD-214,
180     issued by the National Personnel Records Center.
181          (3) The Purple Heart license plates shall bear:
182          (a) the words "Purple Heart" at the bottom of the plate;

183          (b) a logo substantially depicting a Purple Heart award; and
184          (c) the letter and number combinations assigned by the division.
185          (4) Proper evidence that a person is a disabled veteran is a written document issued by
186     a military entity certifying that the person is disabled as a result of service in a branch of the
187     United States Military.
188          (5) A disabled veteran seeking a disabled veteran license plate shall request the
189     Department of Veterans and Military Affairs to provide the verification required under
190     Subsection (4).
191          (6) (a) An applicant for a gold star license plate shall submit written documentation
192     that the applicant is a recipient of a gold star award issued by the United States Secretary of
193     Defense.
194          (b) Written documentation under Subsection (6)(a) may include any of the following:
195          (i) a death certificate;
196          (ii) documentation showing classification of death as listed by the United States
197     Secretary of Defense;
198          (iii) a casualty report;
199          (iv) a telegram from the United States Secretary of Defense or one of the branches of
200     the United States armed forces; or
201          (v) other documentation that verifies the applicant meets the requirements of
202     Subsection (6)(a).
203          (7) An applicant for a campaign or combat theater award special group license plate
204     shall:
205          (a) be a contributor in accordance with Subsections 41-1a-422(1)(a)(i)(B) and
206     (1)(a)(ii)(A); and
207          (b) submit a form to the division obtained from the Department of Veterans and
208     Military Affairs which verifies that the applicant qualifies for the campaign or combat theater
209     award special group license plate requested.
210          (8) Each campaign or combat theater award special group license plate authorized by
211     the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs shall be considered a new special group
212     license plate and require the payment of the fees associated with newly authorized special
213     group license plates.

214          (9) An applicant for a Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross, or
215     Navy Cross special group license plate shall submit a form to the division obtained from the
216     Department of Veterans and Military Affairs which verifies that the applicant qualifies for the
217     award special group license plate requested.