Bill Text: GA HB1012 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Special license plates; service members killed in action; expand definition

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-07-01 - Effective Date [HB1012 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-HB1012-Comm_Sub.html

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10 HB 1012/SCSFA/1

SENATE SUBSTITUTE TO HB 1012

AS PASSED SENATE

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Code Section 40-2-86.18 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to special license plates for family members of service members killed in action, so as to expand the definition of family member; to provide for the purchase of additional license plates by a family member; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Code Section 40-2-86.18 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to special license plates for family members of service members killed in action, is amended by revising subsections (a), (d), (f), and (g) as follows:

"(a) There shall be issued beginning July 1, 2007, special Special license plates honoring the family members of service members who have been killed in action while serving in the armed forces of the United States shall be issued in this state. The license plate shall be officially designated as the Gold Star license plate."

"(d) On and after July 1, 2007, any Any motor vehicle owner who is a resident of Georgia, other than one registering under the International Registration Plan, upon complying with state laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles shall be issued such a special license plate upon application therefor. Special license plates issued under this Code section shall be renewed annually with a revalidation decal as provided in Code Section 40-2-31. One Gold Star license plate per eligible family member is free of charge, after Upon payment of all ad valorem taxes and other fees due at registration of a motor vehicle an eligible family member may apply for a Gold Star license plate. In order to qualify as a an eligible family member, the person must be directly related to the fallen service member as a spouse or legal mother or father, mother, father, sibling, child, step-parent, grandparents or step-grandparents. One free license plate shall be allowed for the spouse, mother, and father, and they may purchase additional license plates for each motor vehicle they register in this state. Siblings, children, step-parents, grandparents or step-grandparents may purchase Gold Star license plates for motor vehicles registered in this state. The cost of a Gold Star license plate shall be established by the department, but shall not exceed the cost of other specialty license plates. If a Gold Star license plate is lost, damaged, or stolen, the eligible family member must pay the reasonable cost, to be established by the department, but not to exceed the cost of other specialty license plates, to replace the Gold Star license plate."

"(f) The A free Gold Star license plate shall be issued only to family members the spouse, mother, and father of service members who resided in Georgia at the time of the death of the service member. However, an eligible family member who was not a resident of Georgia at the time of the death of the service member may purchase a Gold Star license plate, at a cost to be established by the department, not to exceed the cost of other specialty license plates.

(g) Renewal decals shall be issued at no cost to the eligible family member any person that received a free license plate under the provisions of this Code section upon the payment of ad valorem taxes and other registration fees, provided that the renewal is applied for on or within 30 days prior to the renewal date of the eligible family member person. If the eligible family member person fails to renew within such time, he or she shall pay a standard renewal fee and be subject to the standard penalties for late payment of ad valorem taxes due on the motor vehicle."

SECTION 2.

This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2010.

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.